Failed image management apparatus, operation method of failed image management apparatus, and failed image management system

ABSTRACT

A first calculator calculates a first index value quantitatively indicating an imaging failure state for each imaging menu using a first calculation formula having a variable based on the number of times of occurrence of imaging failure for each imaging menu and a variable based on the rate of occurrence of imaging failure for each imaging menu. A first extractor automatically extracts a target menu as an imaging menu to be considered to prevent occurrence of imaging failure based on the first index value. A second extractor extracts a consideration image as a failed image associated with the target menu. A screen output controller generates a conference screen for displaying the target menu and the consideration image. A client terminal displays the conference screen on a display panel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to JapanesePatent Application No. 2015-067015, filed Mar. 27, 2015 and JapanesePatent Application No. 2015-067016, filed Mar. 27, 2015. The aboveapplications are hereby expressly incorporated by reference, in itsentirety, into the present application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a failed image management apparatus, anoperation method of the failed image management apparatus, and a failedimage management system.

2. Description Related to the Prior Art

In medical practice, medical images are captured with use of varioustypes of imaging systems. For example, radiographic images are capturedwith use of a radiation imaging system, and MRI images are captured withuse of a MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) system. In the case ofcapturing such medical images, a medical staff member such as a doctorand a radiation technologist sets an imaging menu through a console ofan imaging system. Imaging conditions are preliminarily associated withthe imaging menu. The imaging conditions are adjusted finely inaccordance with a body type or the like of a patient by a medical staffmember, and set in an imaging system.

When a radiographic image is captured with use of the radiation imagingsystem, for example, one set including a body part to be imaged such asa cephalic part and a chest part, an imaging posture such as an uprightimaging posture, a supine imaging posture, and sitting imaging posture,and an imaging direction such as a front direction and a rear directionis set as an imaging menu. Additionally, a tube voltage and a tubecurrent to be applied to a radiation source for irradiating radiationtoward a patient and an irradiation time of the radiation are set as theimaging conditions.

In the case of capturing a medical image, imaging failure occurs due toan error in positioning a patient, body motion of a patient, an error insetting imaging conditions, or the like, in some cases. The medicalimage captured in such a case is hereinafter referred to as a failedimage, and the failed image is useful information in consideringimprovement on the image capturing for a medical staff member.

In Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2006-218139, a failed imagemanagement apparatus for managing failed images is proposed. Accordingto Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2006-218139, the failedimage management apparatus stores a failed image and an imaging menuassociated with each other, and delivers a failed image corresponding toa designated imaging menu, which is designated by a medical staff memberon a client terminal, to the client terminal. The client terminaldisplays a failed image delivered from the failed image managementapparatus on a display panel. Thereby, the failed image is viewed by amedical staff member.

The purpose for viewing a failed image and considering improvement onthe image capturing for a medical staff member is to improve his/herimaging skill and decrease a frequency of imaging failure or suppressincrease in the frequency of imaging failure. Therefore, the failedimage to be viewed by a medical staff member need to be associated withan imaging menu in which the frequency of imaging failure or anincreasing rate of the frequency of imaging failure is relatively high.To that end, it is necessary for the medical staff member to extract anddesignate an imaging menu in which the frequency of imaging failure orthe increasing rate of the frequency of imaging failure is relativelyhigh.

In order to extract and designate an imaging menu in which the frequencyof imaging failure or the increasing rate of the frequency of imagingfailure is relatively high, the medical staff member need to knowexactly an imaging failure state of each imaging menu. However, itimposes a heavy burden on a busy medical staff member to know exactly animaging failure state of each imaging menu and extract and designate animaging menu in which the frequency of imaging failure or the increasingrate of the frequency of imaging failure is relatively high.

The frequency of imaging failure is represented by any one of the numberof times of occurrence of imaging failure and the rate of the number oftimes of occurrence of imaging failure with respect to the total numberof times of imaging (hereinafter referred to as rate of occurrence ofimaging failure). However, any one of the number of times of occurrenceof imaging failure and the rate of occurrence of imaging failure isinsufficient to know exactly the imaging failure state because of thefollowing reason. For example, in both of an imaging menu in which thetotal number of times of imaging (abbreviated as T.NUM.I in thedrawings) is 100 and the number of times of occurrence of imagingfailure is 20 and an imaging menu in which the total number of times ofimaging is 5 and the number of times of occurrence of imaging failure is1, the rate of occurrence of imaging failure is 20%, namely, the same.Therefore, only the rate of occurrence of imaging failure isinsufficient to judge whether or not the imaging failure state isproper. Although the imaging menu in which the total number of times ofimaging is 100 and the number of times of occurrence of imaging failureis 20 has a statistical reliability higher than that of the imaging menuin which the total number of times of imaging is 5 and the number oftimes of occurrence of imaging failure is 1, the two imaging menus aretreated the same due to the same rate of occurrence of imaging failure.

In the case where it is impossible to know exactly the imaging failurestate of each imaging menu, there is a fear that an imaging menu inwhich the frequency of imaging failure or the increasing rate of thefrequency of imaging failure is relatively low is extracted anddesignated. In such a case, the possibility of decreasing the frequencyof imaging failure or the possibility of suppressing the increase in thefrequency of imaging failure is low even by considering improvement onthe image capturing. Therefore, the consideration is all in vain andresults in waste of precious time of the medical staff members.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing problems, an object of the present invention isto provide a failed image management apparatus which enables efficientconsideration for improvement in image capturing, and further enablesconsideration for reliably decreasing frequency of imaging failure orconsideration for reliably suppressing increase in the frequency ofimaging failure, an operation method of the failed image managementapparatus, and a failed image management system.

In order to achieve the above and other objects and advantages of thepresent invention, a failed image management apparatus of the presentinvention includes a first calculator and a first extractor. The firstcalculator calculates a first index value which quantitatively indicatesan imaging failure state based on each imaging menu associated with aplurality of medical images containing failed images obtained as aresult of failure in image capturing. The first calculator calculatesthe first index value using a first calculation formula having at leasta variable based on the number of times of occurrence of imaging failurefor each imaging menu and a variable based on a rate of occurrence ofimaging failure for each imaging menu, or calculates the first indexvalue using a first calculation formula having at least a variable basedon an increasing rate of frequency of imaging failure for each imagingmenu. The first extractor automatically extracts a target menu which isthe imaging menu as a target to be subject to consideration for thepurpose of preventing occurrence of imaging failure based on the firstindex value.

Preferably, the medical image is also associated with informationregarding a medical staff member who performed the image capturing, anda participant as the medical staff member who attends the considerationis designated.

Preferably, the first calculation formula also has a variable based onthe number of times of occurrence of imaging failure for each imagingmenu for each participant and a variable based on the rate of occurrenceof imaging failure for each imaging menu for each participant, in thecase where the first index value is calculated using the firstcalculation formula having at least the variable based on the number oftimes of occurrence of imaging failure for each imaging menu and thevariable based on the rate of occurrence of imaging failure for eachimaging menu.

Preferably, the medical image is also associated with informationregarding an imaging order for instructing a medical staff member toperform the image capturing. It is preferable that the first calculationformula also has a variable based on the number of times of occurrenceof imaging failure for each imaging menu in the image capturingcorresponding to the same imaging order, in the case where the firstindex value is calculated using the first calculation formula having atleast the variable based on the number of times of occurrence of imagingfailure for each imaging menu and the variable based on the rate ofoccurrence of imaging failure for each imaging menu.

Preferably, the medical image is also associated with informationregarding a patient as a target for the image capturing. It ispreferable that the first calculation formula also has a variable basedon the number of times of occurrence of imaging failure for each imagingmenu in the image capturing corresponding to the same patient, in thecase where the first index value is calculated using the firstcalculation formula having at least the variable based on the number oftimes of occurrence of imaging failure for each imaging menu and thevariable based on the rate of occurrence of imaging failure for eachimaging menu.

It is preferable that the first calculation formula also has a variablebased on the increasing rate of frequency of imaging failure of thetarget menu extracted at a previous consideration, in the case where thefirst index value is calculated using the first calculation formulahaving at least the variable based on the increasing rate of frequencyof imaging failure for each imaging menu.

Preferably, the medical image is also associated with informationregarding a medical staff member who performed the image capturing, anda participant as the medical staff member who attends the considerationis designated. It is preferable that the first calculation formula alsohas a variable based on whether or not a participant, who attended aprevious consideration and was designated to attend a currentconsideration, failed in the image capturing corresponding the targetmenu extracted at the previous consideration, in the case where thefirst index value is calculated using the first calculation formulahaving at least the variable based on the increasing rate of frequencyof imaging failure for each imaging menu.

Preferably, the medical image is also associated with informationregarding date and time of the image capturing, and a calculation targetperiod, as a period in which the medical image having the first indexvalue to be calculated by the first extractor is captured, isdesignated.

Preferably, the failed image management apparatus further includes asecond extractor for extracting a consideration image that is the failedimage associated with the target menu among a plurality of the failedimages.

Preferably, the failed image management apparatus further includes asecond calculator for calculating a second index value whichquantitatively indicates a degree of priority of the consideration imageto be viewed. Preferably, the medical image is also associated withinformation regarding a medical staff member who performed the imagecapturing, and a participant as the medical staff member who attends theconsideration is designated. The second calculator preferably calculatesthe second index value using a second calculation formula having atleast a variable based on whether or not the failed image as theconsideration image is associated with the participant. The secondextractor preferably determines the failed image as the considerationimage based on the second index value.

Preferably, the medical image is also associated with informationregarding the medical staff member who performed the image capturing,and a participant as the medical staff member who attends theconsideration is designated. Preferably, the second extractor replacesthe target menu with another target menu and extracts the considerationimage again, in the case where there is no consideration imageassociated with the participant among the consideration images extractedbased on the target menu. Replacement of the target menus andre-extraction of the consideration images are preferably repeated untilthe consideration image associated with the participant is extracted.

It is preferable that the second extractor increases the number offailed images to be extracted as the consideration images, as theimaging failure state indicated by the first index value of the targetmenu with which the failed image is associated is poorer, in the casewhere there are a plurality of the target menus extracted by the firstextractor.

The number of consideration images to be extracted by the secondextractor is preferably designated.

It is preferable that the medical image is also associated withinformation regarding the date and time of the image capturing, and anextraction target period, as a period in which the failed image to beextracted as the consideration image by the second extractor iscaptured, is designated.

Preferably, the failed image management apparatus further includesscreen output controller for controlling an output of a display screenfor displaying the target menu and a second extractor for extracting aconsideration image that is the failed image associated with the targetmenu among a plurality of the failed images, and the consideration imageis also displayed on the display screen. Preferably, the failed imagemanagement apparatus further includes a second calculator forcalculating a second index value which quantitatively indicates a degreeof priority of the consideration image to be viewed. In the case wherethere are a plurality of the consideration images extracted by thesecond extractor, it is preferable that the consideration imagesarranged in accordance with the second index value are displayed on thedisplay screen, or the consideration images each having a display sizeand a display position in accordance with the second index value aredisplayed on the display screen.

An operation method of a failed image management apparatus of thepresent invention includes a calculation step and an extraction step.The calculation step calculates an index value which quantitativelyindicates an imaging failure state based on each imaging menu associatedwith a plurality of medical images containing failed images obtained asa result of failure in image capturing. The calculation step calculatesthe index value using a calculation formula having at least a variablebased on the number of times of occurrence of imaging failure for eachimaging menu and a variable based on a rate of occurrence of imagingfailure for each imaging menu, or calculates the index value using acalculation formula having at least a variable based on an increasingrate of frequency of imaging failure for each imaging menu. Theextraction step automatically extracts a target menu which is theimaging menu as a target to be subject to consideration for the purposeof preventing occurrence of imaging failure based on the index value.

A failed image management system including a failed image managementapparatus of the present invention includes a calculator and anextractor. The calculator calculates an index value which quantitativelyindicates an imaging failure state based on each imaging menu associatedwith a plurality of medical images containing failed images obtained asa result of failure in image capturing. The calculator calculates theindex value using a calculation formula having at least a variable basedon the number of times of occurrence of imaging failure for each imagingmenu and a variable based on a rate of occurrence of imaging failure foreach imaging menu, or calculates the index value using a calculationformula having at least a variable based on an increasing rate offrequency of imaging failure for each imaging menu. The extractorautomatically extracts a target menu which is the imaging menu as atarget to be subject to consideration for the purpose of preventingoccurrence of imaging failure based on the index value.

According to the present invention, the index value is calculated usingthe calculation formula having at least the variable based on the numberof times of occurrence of imaging failure for each imaging menu and thevariable based on the rate of occurrence of imaging failure for eachimaging menu. Alternatively, the index value is calculated using thecalculation formula having at least the variable based on the increasingrate of frequency of imaging failure for each imaging menu. Based on theindex value thus calculated, the target menu which is the imaging menuas the target to be subject to consideration for the purpose ofpreventing occurrence of imaging failure, is automatically extracted.Thereby, it is possible to provide the failed image management apparatuswhich enables efficient consideration for improvement in imagecapturing, and further enables consideration for reliably decreasingfrequency of imaging failure or consideration for reliably suppressingincrease in the frequency of imaging failure, the operation method ofthe failed image management apparatus, and the failed image managementsystem.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above objects and advantages of the present invention will becomemore apparent from the following detailed description when read inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a medical information system;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view illustrating a flow of radiography from astep at which an imaging order is acquired to a step at which an imagingmenu and imaging conditions are set;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view illustrating a flow of radiography from astep at which a radiographic image is detected to a step at which animage file is transmitted to a PACS and a failed image managementserver;

FIG. 4 illustrates contents of the image file;

FIG. 5 illustrates various types of information transmitted/receivedbetween a client terminal and the failed image management server;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a computer constituting theclient terminal and the failed image management server;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a function of a CPU of the clientterminal;

FIG. 8 illustrates a designation screen;

FIG. 9 illustrates contents of designation information contained in adelivery request;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a function of the CPU of thefailed image management server;

FIG. 11 illustrates that a first calculator acquires a diagnostic imagefile and a failed image file;

FIG. 12 illustrates that the first calculator derives variables based onthe number of times of occurrence of imaging failure for each imagingmenu and variables based on the rate of occurrence of imaging failurefor each imaging menu;

FIG. 13 illustrates that the first calculator derives variables based onthe number of times of occurrence of imaging failure for each imagingmenu for each participant and variables based on the rate of occurrenceof imaging failure for each imaging menu for each participant;

FIG. 14 illustrates derivation results of variables based on the numberof times of occurrence of imaging failure (abbreviated as NUM.I.F. inthe drawings) for each imaging menu for each participant and variablesbased on the rate of occurrence of imaging failure (abbreviated asR.I.F. in the drawings) for each imaging menu for each participant;

FIG. 15 illustrates that the first calculator derives variables based onthe number of times of occurrence of imaging failure for each imagingmenu in image capturing corresponding to the same imaging order;

FIG. 16 illustrates that the first calculator derives variables based onthe number of times of occurrence of imaging failure for each imagingmenu in image capturing corresponding to the same patient;

FIG. 17 is an explanatory view illustrating a function of the firstcalculator for calculating a first index value;

FIG. 18 is an explanatory view illustrating a function of the firstextractor for extracting a target menu;

FIG. 19 illustrates that a second extractor acquires a failed image as aconsideration image;

FIG. 20 illustrates that a second calculator derives variables based onwhether or not the failed image as the consideration image is associatedwith a participant and variables regarding a narrowing-down condition;

FIG. 21 is an explanatory view illustrating a function of the secondcalculator for calculating a second index value;

FIG. 22 is an explanatory view illustrating a function of the secondextractor for extracting the failed image as the consideration image;

FIG. 23 illustrates that the second extractor acquires a diagnosticimage as a reference image;

FIG. 24 is an explanatory view illustrating a screen output controlfunction of a screen output controller;

FIG. 25 illustrates a conference screen in an initial display state;

FIG. 26 illustrates the conference screen on which a consideration imageselection region is displayed;

FIG. 27 illustrates the conference screen on which the considerationimage and the reference image are displayed;

FIG. 28 illustrates an accompanying information display region;

FIG. 29 is a flow chart illustrating a flow of processing performed by aCPU of the client terminal and a CPU of the failed image managementserver;

FIG. 30 illustrates another display example of the consideration imageselection region;

FIG. 31 is a block diagram illustrating the function of the CPU of thefailed image management server according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 32 illustrates contents of conference history information;

FIG. 33 illustrates that the first calculator acquires the failed imagefile;

FIG. 34 illustrates that the first calculator counts the number of timesof occurrence of imaging failure for each imaging menu;

FIG. 35 illustrates that the first calculator derives variables based onan increasing rate of the number of times of occurrence of imagingfailure for each imaging menu;

FIG. 36 illustrates that the first calculator derives variables based onwhether or not a participant, who attended the previous conference andwas designated to attend the current conference, failed in the imagingcapturing corresponding to a target menu extracted at the previousconference;

FIG. 37 is an explanatory view illustrating the function of the firstcalculator for calculating the first index value according to the secondembodiment;

FIG. 38 illustrates that a R/W controller updates the conference historyinformation;

FIG. 39 illustrates a flow of processing performed by the secondextractor according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 40 illustrates an allocation rate of the consideration images andthe number of consideration images to be extracted for each target menuaccording to a forth embodiment;

FIG. 41 illustrates another example of the conference screen;

FIG. 42 illustrates an example of a display state of a target menudisplay region before and after selection of a check box for designatinga particularly notable participant; and

FIG. 43 illustrates an example of a display state of the considerationimage selection region before and after selection of a check box fordesignating a particularly notable participant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRAL EMBODIMENT(S) OF THE PRESENTINVENTION First Embodiment

In FIG. 1, a medical information system 2 includes a radiation imagingsystem 10, a PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) 11, aclient terminal 12, and a failed image management server 13corresponding to a failed image management apparatus, which areconnected to one another through a network 14 such as a LAN (Local AreaNetwork) provided in a medical facility.

As well known, the radiation imaging system 10 includes a radiationsource 15 for irradiating radiation such as X-rays toward a patient P asan imaging target, a radiation source controller 16 for controlling anoperation of the radiation source 15 in accordance with an imagingcondition, a radiographic image detector 17, and a console 18 forcontrolling an operation of the radiographic image detector 17. Theimaging condition consists of a tube voltage and a tube current to beapplied to the radiation source 15 and an irradiation time of theradiation. The radiographic image detector 17 receives the radiationhaving been irradiated from the radiation source 15 and having passedthrough the Patient P, and detects a radiographic image 26 (see FIG. 3)corresponding to a medical image. Incidentally, although one radiationimaging system 10 is depicted in FIG. 1, in fact, a plurality of theradiation imaging systems 10 are provided in each of a plurality ofimaging rooms.

Each of the PACS 11, the client terminal 12, and the failed imagemanagement server 13 is composed of a computer (e.g., personal computer,server computer, workstation, or the like) installed with a controlprogram (e.g., operating system) and various types of applicationprograms.

The PACS 11 includes an image database (hereinafter abbreviated as DB)20, in which a diagnostic image file (see FIG. 3) is stored in aretrievable manner. The PACS 11 stores and manages the diagnostic imagefile.

The failed image management server 13 includes an imaging failure caseexample DB 21, in which the diagnostic image file and the failed imagefile (see FIG. 3) are stored in a retrievable manner. The failed imagemanagement server 13 stores and manages the diagnostic image file andthe failed image file.

The diagnostic image file is an image file created based on a diagnosticimage, which is usable for diagnosis, among radiographic images 26captured by the radiation imaging system 10. The failed image file is animage file created based on a failed image, which is unsuccessfullycaptured, among the radiographic images 26 captured by the radiationimaging system 10. Note that, the cause of the failure in imagecapturing is an error in positioning the patient P, body motion of thepatient P, an error in setting the imaging condition, or the like.

The client terminal 12 is operated by a medical staff member at aconference for considering improvement on the image capturing at which aplurality of medical staff members such as a radiation technologist incharge of the image capturing gather. The conference is periodicallyheld, for example, every one month. Incidentally, although one clientterminal 12 is depicted in FIG. 1, a plurality of the client terminals12 may be provided for a plurality of medical staff members onone-to-one basis.

In FIG. 2, the console 18 receives an imaging order for instructing amedical staff member to perform image capturing. The imaging order isissued using an electronic medical chart by a doctor belonging to adiagnosis and treatment department such as an internal medicinedepartment (abbreviated as “I.M. DEP.” in the drawing) and a traumadepartment, and transmitted to the console 18 through a RIS (RadiologyInformation System, not shown in the drawing). The console 18 representsthe contents of an imaging menu to the medical staff member.Incidentally, instead of using the system such as the RIS, the imagingorder in a printed paper version is passed from the doctor belonging tothe diagnosis and treatment department to the medical staff member insome cases. In this case, the imaging order is manually inputted to theconsole 18 by the medical staff member.

The imaging order contains items such as “order ID (Identificationdata)”, “department as requestor”, “staff ID”, “patient ID”, and “bodypart to be imaged/imaging posture/imaging direction”. The order IDconsists of symbols and numbers, for identifying an individual imagingorder, and is automatically assigned by the RIS. The name of thediagnosis and treatment department, which issued the imaging order, isinputted to the item “department as requestor”. The staff ID of thedoctor as the requestor of the image capturing, who issued the imagingorder, is inputted to the item “staff ID”. The patient ID of the patientP as the imaging target is inputted to the item “patient ID”. The staffID consists of symbols and numbers, for identifying an individualmedical staff member such as a doctor and a radiation technologist. Thepatient ID consists of symbols and numbers, for identifying anindividual patient.

The body part to be imaged, the imaging posture, and the imagingdirection, designated by the doctor who issued the imaging order, areinputted to the item “body part to be imaged/imaging posture/imagingdirection”. The body part to be imaged includes cephalic part, cervicalspine, chest part, abdominal part, hand, finger, elbow, and knee of ahuman body. The imaging posture is the posture of the patient P, such asan upright imaging posture, a supine imaging posture, and a sittingimaging posture. The imaging direction is an orientation of the patientP toward the radiation, such as a front direction, a side direction, anda rear direction. In an example shown in FIG. 2, the chest part isdesignated as the body part to be imaged, the upright imaging posture isdesignated as the imaging posture, and the front direction is designatedas the imaging direction. Note that, in addition to the above items, thedate and time on which the RIS receives the imaging order, the purposeof the image capturing such as follow-up after surgery and responseevaluation of a curative drug, a message from the doctor belonging tothe diagnosis and treatment department to the radiation technologist,and the like may be added as the items.

In some cases, one imaging order is issued for one patient, and in othercases, a plurality of the imaging orders are issued for one patient atthe same time. In the case where a plurality of the imaging orders areissued for one patient at the same time, an identification code foridentifying the one patient is assigned to the order ID of each of aplurality of the imaging orders.

A menu/condition table 25 is stored in the console 18. The imaging menuincluding the body part to be imaged, the imaging posture, and theimaging direction as one set, and the imaging condition corresponding tothe imaging menu are associated with each other and registered in themenu/condition table 25. The console 18 represents the contents of themenu/condition table 25 to the medical staff member such that themedical staff member can set the imaging menu. Incidentally, the imagingmenu including the body part to be imaged and the imaging direction asone set, with the imaging posture being excluded from the imaging menu,and the imaging menu adapted to special imaging such as tomosynthesisimaging and long time-scale imaging may be provided.

The medical staff member confirms the contents of the imaging orderusing the console 18, and selects and sets the imaging menu includingthe body part to be imaged, the imaging posture, and the imagingdirection designated by the imaging order. Then, the medical staffmember manually sets the imaging condition which is the same as theimaging condition corresponding to the set imaging menu, or the imagingcondition obtained by finely adjusting the imaging conditioncorresponding to the set imaging menu in accordance with a body type orthe like of the patient P, to the radiation source controller 16.

After setting the imaging condition, the medical staff performs thepositioning of each of the radiation source 15, the radiographic imagedetector 17, and the patient P to a desired position. Thereafter, themedical staff member drives the radiation source 15, so as to irradiateradiation to the patient P. The radiation having passed through thepatient P is irradiated to the radiographic image detector 17, and thusthe radiographic image detector 17 detects the radiographic image 26.

In FIG. 3, the radiographic image detector 17 transmits the radiographicimage 26 to the console 18. The console 18 displays the radiographicimage 26 to the medical staff member. The medical staff member judgeswhether the radiographic image 26 displayed by the console 18 is thediagnostic image or the failed image, and inputs the judgment result tothe console 18. A point of time when the medical staff member judges theradiographic image 26 as the diagnostic image corresponds to a sign ofthe completion of the image capturing for one imaging order.

The console 18 creates an image file in which the radiographic image 26is associated with the imaging menu set at the time of capturing theradiographic image 26 and other accompanying information. As describedabove, there are two types of image files, namely, there are thediagnostic image file based the diagnostic image and the failed imagefile based the failed image. The console 18 transmits the diagnosticimage file to the PACS 11, and transmits the diagnostic image file andthe failed image file to the failed image management server 13. Notethat, the timing of transmitting each of the image files by the console18 may be just after each of the image files is created. As the failedimage file is not necessary for diagnosis, the failed image file afterbeing created may be stocked once and transmitted at a predeterminedtiming. For example, when the day's work is completed and the console 18is shut down, the failed image files may be transmitted at a time.

In FIG. 4, the image file is in a file format compatible with DICOM(Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine) standard, for example.The image file includes an accompanying information storage 27 in whichaccompanying information is stored and an image storage 28 in which theradiographic image 26 is stored.

In the accompanying information storage 27, there are stored items “fileID”, “date and time of imaging”, “patient ID”, “patient name”, “gender”,“date of birth”, “age”, “body height (unit: cm)”, “body weight (unit:kg)”, “inpatient/outpatient classification (abbreviated as “IP/OPCLASSIFICATION” in the drawings)”, “order ID”, “imaging menu”, “tubevoltage (unit: kV)”, “tube current (unit: mA)”, “irradiation time (unit:ms)”, “staff ID”, “imaging room”, and “imaging failure flag”.

The file ID consists of symbols and numbers for identifying each imagefile, and is automatically assigned by the console 18 at the time ofcreating an image file. The date and time of imaging is literally thedate and time when the image capturing is performed, and automaticallyassigned by the radiographic image detector 17 at the time of detectingthe radiographic image 26.

The patient ID and the like of the patient P as the imaging target arerespectively inputted to the items “patient ID”, “patient name”,“gender”, “date of birth”, “age”, “body height”, “body weight”, and“inpatient/outpatient classification”. The information regarding thepatient P can be obtained from HIS (Hospital Information System, notshown in the drawing), for example. Incidentally, in addition to theabove items, an item “body type index” such as BMI (Body Mass Index)calculated from the body height and the body weight may be added.

The order ID of the imaging order of the imaging target is inputted tothe item “order ID”. Until the medical staff member judges theradiographic image 26 as the diagnostic image and the sign of thecompletion of the image capturing is issued, the same order ID isinputted to the item “order ID”. Namely, in the case where the imagecapturing fails and the failed image is captured, at least one of thefailed image files in each of which the same order ID is inputted andone diagnostic image file are created. The number of the failed imagefiles in each of which the same order ID is inputted represents thenumber of times of occurrence of imaging failure corresponding to theorder ID.

The imaging menu set by the medical staff member is set to the item“imaging menu”. The tube voltage, tube current, and irradiation time setto the radiation source controller 16 by the medical staff member arerespectively inputted to the items “tube voltage”, “tube current”, and“irradiation time”. The staff ID of the medical staff member whoperformed the image capturing (radiographer) is inputted to the item“staff ID”. The imaging room in which the image capturing was performedis inputted to the item “imaging room”.

An imaging failure flag is used to distinguish the image file betweenthe diagnostic image file and the failed image file. In the case of thediagnostic image file, “0” is inputted to the item “imaging failureflag”, and in the case of the failed image file, “1” is inputted to theitem “imaging failure flag”.

Since “1” is inputted to the item “imaging failure flag” in FIG. 4, theimage file shown in FIG. 4 is the failed image file. The radiographicimage 26 stored in the image storage 28 is the failed image. As shown bythe botted lines, positional displacement due to a positioning error ofthe patient P, image blur due to body motion of the patient P, excessiveconcentration or insufficient concentration due to the setting error inthe imaging condition, and the like appear.

In FIG. 5, the client terminal 12 outputs the delivery request to thefailed image management server 13. The failed image management server 13receives the delivery request from the client terminal 12. The failedimage management server 13 automatically extracts a target menu as theimaging menu to be considered at the conference, and a considerationimage 26C (see FIG. 27) to be viewed by the medical staff members at theconference, in response to the delivery request. The failed imagemanagement server 13 generates a conference screen 30 (corresponding todisplay screen, also see FIG. 25 to FIG. 27) for displaying the targetmenu and the consideration image 26C, and outputs the conference screen30 to the client terminal 12 as a requestor of the delivery request.

The failed image management server 13 outputs the conference screen 30in the XML data format for web delivery, which is described by a markuplanguage such as XML (Extensible Markup Language), for example. Theclient terminal 12 reproduces and displays the conference screen 30 onthe web browser based on the XML data. Incidentally, instead of the XML,a data description language such as JSON (JavaScript (registeredtrademark) Object Notation) may be used.

In FIG. 6, the computer constituting the client terminal 12 and thecomputer constituting the failed image management server 13 have thesame basic structure. Each of the computers includes a storage device35, a memory 36, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 37, a communicationsection 38, a display panel 39, and an input device 40, which areconnected to one another through a data bus 41.

The storage device 35 is incorporated in the computer constituting theclient terminal 12 or the like. Alternatively, the storage device 35 isa hard disk drive connected through a cable or a network, or a diskarray composed of two or more connected hard disk drives. The storagedevice 35 stores a control program such as an operating system, varioustypes of application programs, and display data of various types ofoperation screens associated with the programs.

The memory 36 is a working memory, which is used by the CPU 37 toexecute processing. The CPU 37 loads the programs, which are stored inthe storage device 35, into the memory 36, and executes the processingin accordance with the programs. Thereby, the CPU 37 centrally controlseach section of the computer.

The communication section 38 is a network interface that controlstransmissions of various types of information through the network 14.The display panel 39 displays various types of operation screens inaccordance with the operation of the input device 40 such as a mouse anda keyboard. The operation screen is provided with an operation functionusing a GUI (Graphical User Interface). A computer, which constitutesthe client terminal 12 or the like, receives the input of an operationcommand from the input device 40 through the operation screen.

Incidentally, in the descriptions below, a suffix “A” is attached to anumeral that denotes each component of the computer that constitutes theclient terminal 12, and a suffix “B” is attached to a numeral thatdenotes each component of the computer that constitutes the failed imagemanagement server 13, for distinction.

In FIG. 7, upon the startup of the web browser, a CPU 37A of the clientterminal 12 works together with the memory 36, and thereby functions asa GUI controller 45 and a browser controller 46.

The GUI controller 45 displays various types of operation screens on thedisplay panel 39A, and receives an operation command inputted using theinput device 40A through various types of operation screens. Theoperation command is a command for delivering the conference screen 30or the like. The GUI controller 45 outputs the received operationcommand to the browser controller 46.

The browser controller 46 controls the operation of the web browser. Thebrowser controller 46 issues the delivery request to the failed imagemanagement server 13. Further, the browser controller 46 receives theXML data of the conference screen 30 from the failed image managementserver 13. The browser controller 46 reproduces the conference screen 30to be displayed on the web browser based on the XML data, and outputsthe conference screen 30 to the GUI controller 45. The GUI controller 45displays the conference screen 30 on the display panel 39A.

At the conference, the medical staff member accesses a site establishedby the failed image management server 13 on the web browser. Uponcompletion of the access to the site, a designation screen 50 as shownin FIG. 8 is displayed on the display panel 39A. The designation screen50 is a screen for inputting a command for delivering the conferencescreen 30.

In FIG. 8, a designation screen 50 includes a participant selectionregion 51, an input region 52 for inputting the number of target menus,the number of consideration images, and a target period (hereinaftersimply referred to as input region 52), and a narrowing-down conditionselection region 53. The participant selection region 51 is a region forselecting medical staff members (participants) who attend theconference. The full name of each medical staff member is displayed in aparticipant selection region 51. Check boxes 54 for selecting themedical staff members as the participants, and a scroll bar 55 fordisplaying hidden full names of medical staff members and hidden checkboxes are provided in the participant selection region 51. The check box54 is selectable using a cursor 56, and a check mark is displayed in thecheck box 54 selected using the cursor 56.

The participants are displayed in the participant selection region 51 byacquiring the information regarding the staff ID from the item “staffID” in each of the diagnostic image file and the failed image filestored in the imaging failure case example DB and converting theacquired staff ID to the full name. Incidentally, a function forselecting all the medical staff members as the participants collectivelyand a function for selecting the participants for each group containingsome of the medical staff members may be provided to the participantselection region 51.

The input region 52 is a region for inputting the number of target menus(abbreviated as NUM.T.M. in the drawings), the number of considerationimages 26C, and the period. The period includes a calculation targetperiod and an extraction target period. The calculation target period isa period in which the radiographic image 26 having the first index valueto be calculated by a first calculator 72 (see FIG. 10) was captured.The extraction target period is a period in which the failed image to beextracted as the consideration image 26C by a second extractor 74 (seeFIG. 10) was captured.

The item input region 52 is provided with an input box 57 for inputtingthe number of target menus, an input box 58 for inputting the number ofconsideration images 26C, and input boxes and 60 for inputting theperiod. The numerical value indicating the number of target menus isinputted to the input box 57. The numerical value indicating the numberof consideration images 26C is inputted to the input box 58. Thestarting date of the period is inputted to the input box 59, and theending date of the period is inputted to the input box 60. Here, thecalculation target period and the extraction target period aredesignated together using the input boxes 59 and 60. However, thecalculation target period and the extraction target period may bedesignated separately by providing an input box dedicated for thecalculation target period and an input box dedicated for the extractiontarget period.

The narrowing-down condition selection region 53 is a region forselecting the narrowing-down condition. The narrowing-down conditionincludes the age and gender of the patient, inpatient/outpatientclassification, a period of time of the image capturing, a day of weekof the image capturing, and the imaging room. The narrowing-downcondition selection region 53 is provided with pull-down menus 61, 62,63, 64, 65, and 66 each for selecting the narrowing-down condition.Incidentally, the narrowing-down condition may include the ranges ofbody height and body weight of the patient, and the range of the imagingcondition such as the tube voltage.

At least one of the check boxes 54 in the participant selection region51 is required to be selected. In contrast, the input of the number oftarget menus to the input box 57, the input of the number ofconsideration images 26C to the input box 58, and the input of theperiod to the input boxes 59 and 60 in the item input region 52 may bearbitrarily performed. As well, the selection of the pull-down menus 61to 66 each for selecting the narrowing-down condition in thenarrowing-down condition selection region 53 may be arbitrarilyperformed.

A start button 67 is disposed under the narrowing-down conditionselection region 53. In response to selection of the start button 67after the selection of at least one of the check boxes 54, the commandfor delivering the conference screen 30 is received by the GUIcontroller 45, and outputted to the browser controller 46.

In FIG. 8, as the participants, four participants, “Tadashi YAMADA”,“Ichiro KAWAMURA”, “Misaki OIWA”, “Ayaka HYAKUYASU” are selected. (Eachperson's name is abbreviated as an initial in terms of space in thedrawings but it is fully displayed without abbreviations in practice.)“1” is inputted to the input box 57, “50” is inputted to the input box58, “2015.01.05” is inputted to the input box 59, and “2015.03.13” isinputted to the input box 60, respectively. Further, in FIG. 8, as thenarrowing-down condition, gender “male” (abbreviated “M” in thedrawings), inpatient/outpatient classification “outpatient” arerespectively selected, by way of example.

The browser controller 46 generates designation information shown inFIG. 9 in response to the command for delivering the conference screen30 from the GUI controller 45. The designation information includesitems of the staff ID of the participant, the number of target menus,the number of consideration images, the period, and the narrowing-downcondition. The information corresponding to the selected state and theinputted state in each of the regions 51 to 53 in the designation screen50 is inputted to the items. The browser controller 46 issues therequest for delivering the conference screen 30 containing thedesignation information.

FIG. 9 illustrates the designation information in which informationcorresponding to the selected state and the inputted state in thedesignation screen 50 shown in FIG. 8 is contained. Incidentally, thestaff ID “R0001” inputted to the item of the staff ID corresponds to“Tadashi YAMADA”, the staff ID “R0002” inputted to the item of the staffID corresponds to “Ichiro KAWAMURA”, the staff ID “R0005” inputted tothe item of the staff ID corresponds to “Misaki OIWA”, and the staff ID“R0008” inputted to the item of the staff ID corresponds to “AyakaHYAKUYASU” as the participants.

As shown in FIG. 10, a failed image management program 70 is stored in astorage device 35B of the failed image management server 13. The failedimage management program 70 is an application program for making thecomputer constituting the failed image management server 13 function asthe failed image management apparatus. The failed image managementprogram 70 corresponds to an operation program.

Upon the startup of the failed image management program 70, the CPU 37Bof the failed image management server 13 works together with the memory36, such that the CPU 37B and the memory 36 function as a receiving unit71, the first calculator 72, a first extractor 73, the second extractor74, a second calculator 75, and a screen output controller 76.

The receiving unit 71 receives the delivery request from the clientterminal 12. The receiving unit 71 outputs the information regarding thestaff ID of the participant and the information regarding the period asthe designation information contained in the delivery request to thefirst calculator 72, and outputs the information regarding the period asthe designation information contained in the delivery request to thefirst extractor 73. Further, the receiving unit 71 outputs theinformation regarding the number of consideration images and theinformation regarding the extraction target period to the secondextractor 74, and outputs the information regarding the staff ID of theparticipant and the information regarding the narrowing-down conditionto the second calculator 75. Furthermore, the receiving unit 71 outputsthe information regarding the staff ID of the participant to the screenoutput controller 76.

The first calculator 72 calculates the first index value quantitativelyindicating the imaging failure state for each of the imaging menus basedon the imaging menus inputted in the diagnostic image file and thefailed image file stored in the imaging failure case example DB 21. Thefirst extractor 73 automatically extracts the target menu based on thefirst index value.

The second extractor 74 extracts the failed image file, in which thetarget menu extracted by the first extractor 73 is inputted, from aplurality of the failed image files stored in the imaging failure caseexample DB 21. The second calculator 75 calculates a second index valuequantitatively indicating a degree of priority of the considerationimage 26C in the case where the consideration image 26C is viewed by theparticipants.

The screen output controller 76 generates the conference screen 30 basedon the target menu extracted by the first extractor 73, the failed imagefile extracted by the second extractor 74, and the like. The screenoutput controller 76 outputs the XML data of the generated conferencescreen 30 to the client terminal 12 as the requestor of the deliveryrequest.

In FIG. 11, the first calculator 72 receives the information regardingthe period from the receiving unit 71. The first calculator 72 outputs asearch command designating the same period as the received period to theimaging failure case example DB 21. In response to the search commandfrom the first calculator 72, the imaging failure case example DB 21searches the diagnostic image file and the failed image file in each ofwhich the date and time of imaging corresponding to the designatedperiod is inputted, and outputs a search result 80 to the firstcalculator 72.

Note that, in the case where the period is not inputted in thedesignation screen 50 and there is no information regarding the periodin the designation information, all the diagnostic image files and thefailed image files in the imaging failure case example DB 21 areoutputted as the search result 80 from the imaging failure case exampleDB 21 to the first calculator 72.

In FIG. 11, as the period, “from 2015.01.05 to 2015.03.13” isillustrated by way of example in the similar manner as FIGS. 8 and 9.Therefore, the search result 80 consists of the diagnostic image filesand the failed image files in each of which the date and time of imagingcorresponding to the period “from 2015.01.05 to 2015.03.13” is inputted.

In FIG. 12, the first calculator 72 generates intermediate process data81 based on the search result 80. Specifically, at first, the firstcalculator 72 focuses attention on the imaging menus of the diagnosticimage file and the failed image file in the search result 80, and countsthe total number of times of imaging by summing up the number ofdiagnostic image files and the number of failed image files for eachimaging menu.

Next, based on the number of failed image files in the search result 80,the number of times of occurrence of imaging failure is counted for eachimaging menu, and further the number of times of occurrence of imagingfailure is divided by the total number of times of imaging, so as tocalculate the rate of occurrence of imaging failure that is the rate ofthe number of times of occurrence of imaging failure relative to thetotal number of times of imaging for each imaging menu. For example, inthe case of the imaging menu “chest part/upright imaging posture/front”(abbreviated as “C.P./U.I.P./F” in the drawings), the total number oftimes of imaging is 200, the number of times of occurrence of imagingfailure is 30, and thus the rate of occurrence of imaging failureexpressed by (30/200)×100 equals to 15%.

After the counting of the number of times of occurrence of imagingfailure and the calculation of the rate of occurrence of imagingfailure, the first calculator 72 ranks each imaging menu according tothe number of times of occurrence of imaging failure in descending orderand the rate of occurrence of imaging failure in descending order. Then,by referring to a table 85 according to rank and variable, a variable X1based on the number of times of occurrence of imaging failure inaccordance with the rank thereof, and a variable X2 based on the rate ofoccurrence of imaging failure in accordance with the rank thereof arederived for each imaging menu. The variable X1 is a variable based onthe number of times of occurrence of imaging failure for each imagingmenu, and the variable X2 is a variable based on the rate of occurrenceof imaging failure for each imaging menu.

The table 85 according to rank and variable is a data table in whichvariables corresponding to the rank are registered, and stored in thestorage device 35B, for example. Here, a variable “10” is registered forthe first rank, a variable “9” is registered for the second rank, . . ., a variable “2” is registered for the ninth rank, and a variable “1” isregistered for the tenth rank. Namely, the variable is decreased by 1from “10” registered for the first rank. A variable “0” is registeredfor the 11th or lower rank.

In the case of the imaging menu “chest part/upright imagingposture/front”, for example, the number of times of occurrence ofimaging failure is ranked at third place, and therefore “8” is derivedas the variable X1, and the rate of occurrence of imaging failure isranked at sixth place, and therefore “5” is derived as the variable X2.The variables X1 and X2 are registered in the intermediate process data81. In the case of the imaging menu “abdominal part/upright imagingposture/front” (abbreviated as “A.P./U.I.P./F” in the drawings), thenumber of times of occurrence of imaging failure is ranked at 12th placeand the rate of occurrence of imaging failure is ranked at 16th place,namely, both of them are ranked at lower than 11th place. Therefore, “0”is derived as each of the variables X1 and X2, and registered in theintermediate process data 81.

In FIG. 13, the first calculator 72 receives the information regardingthe staff IDs of the participants from the receiving unit 71. The firstcalculator 72 generates intermediate process data 82 based on theinformation regarding the staff IDs and the search result 80. The firstcalculator 72 focuses attention on the imaging menus and the staff IDsin the diagnostic image file and the failed image file in the searchresult 80, and subjects the diagnostic image file and the failed imagefile, in which the staff IDs of the participants are inputted, to thesame process as in the case of the intermediate process data 81, so asto generate the intermediate process data 82.

As shown in FIG. 14, the intermediate process data 82 is obtained bygathering the intermediate process data 81 of each of the participants.Here, as the staff IDs of the participants, “R0001”, “R0002”, “R0005”,and “R0008” are illustrated by way of example in the similar manner asFIGS. 8 and 9, and variables X3, X5, X7, and X9 based on the number oftimes of occurrence of imaging failure and variables X4, X6, X8, and X10based on the rate of occurrence of imaging failure are derived for therespective staff IDs. The variables X3, X5, X7, and X9 are variablesbased on the number of times of occurrence of imaging failure for eachimaging menu for each participant, and the variables X4, X6, X8, and X10are variables based on the rate of occurrence of imaging failure foreach imaging menu for each participant. Note that, regarding the staffID “R0005” and “R0008”, due to the limitation of drawing space, thenumber of times of occurrence of imaging failure, the rate of occurrenceof imaging failure, and the like are not shown in the drawing.

Further, as shown in FIG. 15, the first calculator 72 focuses attentionon the imaging menu and the order ID in the failed image file in thesearch result 80, and generates intermediate process data 83.Specifically, the first calculator 72 extracts the order ID and theimaging menu of two or more failed image files in each which the sameorder ID is inputted among the failed image files in the search result80. Then, the first calculator 72 registers the number of failed imagefiles as the number of times of occurrence of imaging failure. The firstcalculator 72 derives a variable X11 based on the number of times ofoccurrence of imaging failure. Here, the first calculator 72 derives anumerical value, which is equal to the number of times of occurrence ofimaging failure, as the variable X11. The variable X11 is a variablebased on the number of times of occurrence of imaging failure for eachimaging menu in the image capturing corresponding to the same imagingorder.

In FIG. 15, there are two failed image files in each of which the orderID “OD0001” and the imaging menu “chest part/upright imagingposture/front” are inputted in the search result 80, and therefore theorder ID “OD0001”, the imaging menu “chest part/upright imagingposture/front”, the number of times of occurrence of imaging failure“2”, and the variable X11 “2” are registered in the intermediate processdata 83.

Further, as shown in FIG. 16, the first calculator 72 focuses attentionon the imaging menu and the patient ID in the failed image file in thesearch result 80, and generates intermediate process data 84.Specifically, the first calculator 72 extracts the patient ID and theimaging menu in two or more failed image files in each of which the samepatient ID is inputted among the failed image files in the search result80. Then, the first calculator 72 registers the number of failed imagefiles as the number of times of occurrence of imaging failure. The firstcalculator 72 derives a variable X12 based on the number of times ofoccurrence of imaging failure. Here, as the variable X12, as in the caseof the variable X11, a numerical value which is the same as the numberof times of occurrence of imaging failure is derived. The variable X12is a variable based on the number of times of occurrence of imagingfailure for each imaging menu in the image capturing corresponding tothe same patient.

In FIG. 16, there are two failed image files in each of which thepatient ID “P0001” and the imaging menu “chest part/upright imagingposture/front” are inputted in the search result 80, and therefore thepatient ID “P0001”, the imaging menu “chest part/upright imagingposture/front”, the number of times of occurrence of imaging failure“2”, and the variable X12 “2” are registered in the intermediate processdata 84. Incidentally, in the case where there are two or more failedimage files, in each of which the same patient ID is inputted, for aplurality of the imaging menus in the search result 80, the number oftimes of occurrence of imaging failure and the variable X12 for eachimaging menu are registered, as shown in the item of patient ID “P0010”in the intermediate process data 84.

In FIG. 17, the first calculator 72 reads out each variable Xi (i=1 to12) from each of the intermediate process data 81 to 84. The firstcalculator 72 calculates the first index value for each imaging menuusing a first calculation formula ΣXi for obtaining summation of thevariables Xi. The first calculator 72 outputs a calculation result 86 ofthe first index value to the first extractor 73 and the screen outputcontroller 76.

The first index value may be calculated by adding or multiplying anadequate weighting coefficient to each variable Xi. For example, 10 isadded to each of the variable X1 based on the number of times ofoccurrence of imaging failure for each imaging menu and the variable X2based on the rate of occurrence of imaging failure for each imagingmenu. Alternatively, each of the variable X11 based on the number oftimes of occurrence of imaging failure for each imaging menu in theimage capturing corresponding to the same imaging order and the variableX12 based on the number of times of occurrence of imaging failure foreach imaging menu in the image capturing corresponding to the samepatient is multiplied by 2. In this case, the weighting coefficient maybe configured to be settable on the client terminal 12.

Note that, since there are four patients here, there are four variablesX3, X5, X7, and X9 based on the number of times of occurrence of imagingfailure for each imaging menu for each participant, and there are fourvariables X4, X6, X8, and X10 based on the rate of occurrence of imagingfailure for each imaging menu for each participant. However, the changein the number of participants varies the number of the variables.Therefore, the suffix “i” is not limited to 1 to 12 described above.Further, although the suffix “i” of the variable based on the number oftimes of occurrence of imaging failure for each imaging menu in theimage capturing corresponding to the same imaging order is set to 11,and the suffix “i” of the variable based on the number of times ofoccurrence of imaging failure for each imaging menu in the imagecapturing corresponding to the same patient is set to 12, for theconvenience of explanation, the suffix “i” varies depending on thenumber of the participants.

In FIG. 18, the first extractor 73 receives the information regardingthe number of target menus from the receiving unit 71 and thecalculation result 86 of the first index value from the first calculator72. The first extractor 73 extracts the designated number of targetmenus based on the calculation result 86.

More specifically, the first extractor 73 generates intermediate processdata 90 in which the imaging menus are sorted in descending order of thefirst index value of the calculation result 86. Then, the firstextractor 73 extracts the imaging menu as the target menu in order ofrank of the first index value from first place in the intermediateprocess data 90, and stops the extraction at the point of time when thenumber of extracted target menus reaches the designated number. Thefirst extractor 73 outputs the target menus extracted as described aboveas an extraction result 91 to the second extractor 74 and the screenoutput controller 76.

Note that, in the case where the number of the target menus is notinputted in the designation screen 50 and there is no informationregarding the number of target menus in the designation information,three imaging menus ranked at first to third places in the intermediateprocess data 90 are extracted as the target menus, for example.

In FIG. 18, the number of the target menus is set to “1” and the imagingmenu ranked at first place in the intermediate process data 90 is “chestpart/upright imaging posture/front”, and therefore the imaging menu“chest part/upright imaging posture/front” ranked at first place isextracted as the target menu.

In FIG. 19, the second extractor 74 receives the information regardingthe period from the receiving unit 71 and an extraction result 91 of thetarget menu from the first extractor 73. The second extractor 74 outputsthe period which is the same as the received period, the imaging menuwhich is the same as the received target menu, and the search commandwhich designates an imaging failure flag “1” (failed image file) to theimaging failure case example DB 21. The imaging failure case example DB21 searches the failed image file, in which the date and time of imagingcorresponding to the period and the imaging menu that is the same as thetarget menu are inputted, in response to the search command from thesecond extractor 74, and outputs a search result 95 to the secondextractor 74. The second extractor 74 outputs the search result 95 tothe second calculator 75.

Note that, in the case where the period is not inputted in thedesignation screen 50 and there is no information regarding the periodin the designation information, all the failed image files, in each ofwhich the imaging menu that is the same as the target menu in theimaging failure case example DB 21 is inputted, are outputted as thesearch result 95 from the imaging failure case example DB 21 to thesecond extractor 74.

In FIG. 19, as the period, “from 2015.01.05 to 2015.03.13” isillustrated by way of example in the similar manner as FIG. 9 and thelike. Further, as the target menu, “chest part/upright imagingposture/front” is illustrated by way of example in the similar manner asFIG. 18. Therefore, the search result 95 consists of the failed imagefiles, in each of which the date and time of imaging corresponding tothe period “from 2015.01.05 to 2015.03.13” and the imaging menu “chestpart/upright imaging posture/front” are inputted.

In FIG. 20, the second calculator 75 receives the information regardingthe staff IDs of the participants and the information regarding thenarrowing-down condition from the receiving unit 71. Further, the secondcalculator 75 receives the search result 95 from the second extractor74.

The second calculator 75 generates intermediate process data 98 based onthe search result 95. Specifically, at first, the second calculator 75focuses attention on the staff ID in the failed image file of the searchresult 95, and derives a variable Y1 regarding the participant, andregisters the variable Y1 for each file ID in the failed image file ofthe search result 95. The variable Y1 is a variable based on whether ornot the failed image as the consideration image 26C is associated withthe participant.

Regarding the failed image file in which a staff ID that is the same asthe staff ID of the participant is inputted, namely, the failed imagefile based on the failed image captured by the participant, “1” isderived as the variable Y1. In contrast, regarding the failed image filein which a staff ID that is different from the staff ID of theparticipant is inputted, namely, the failed image file based on thefailed image captured by a person other than the participant, “0” isderived as the variable Y1.

In FIG. 20, as the staff IDs of the participants, the staff IDs “R0001”,“R0002”, “R0005”, and “R0008” are illustrated by way of example in thesimilar manner as FIG. 9 and the like. Further, since the staff IDs ofthe participants “R0001” and “R0002” are inputted in the failed imagefiles having the file IDs “F0110” and “F0115”, respectively, thevariable Y1 “1” is registered in the item of the file ID of each of thefailed image files of the intermediate process data 98.

In contrast, in the failed image file having the file ID “F0250”, astaff ID “R0010” that is different from the staff ID of the participantis inputted, and therefore a variable Y1 “0” is registered in the itemof the file ID “F0250” of the intermediate process data 98.

Next, the second calculator 75 focuses attention on the item designatedby the narrowing-down condition in the accompanying information of thefailed image file of the search result 95, and derives variables Y2 toY7 regarding the narrowing-down condition and registers the variables Y2to Y7 for each file ID. The variable Y2 corresponds to the age, thevariable Y3 corresponds to the gender, the variable Y4 corresponds tothe inpatient/outpatient classification, the variable Y5 corresponds tothe period of time, the variable Y6 corresponds to the day of week, andthe variable Y7 corresponds to the imaging room, as the narrowing-downcondition.

Regarding the failed image file in which the accompanying informationcorresponding to the narrowing-down condition is inputted, “1” isderived as the variables Y2 to Y7. In contrast, regarding the failedimage file in which the accompanying information that does notcorrespond to the narrowing-down condition is inputted, “0” is derivedas the variables Y2 to Y7.

Note that, the second calculator 75 derives only the variablecorresponding to the narrowing-down condition from the receiving unit 71among the variables Y2 to Y7. Other variables are not derived as shownby diagonal lines in the drawing. Further, in the case where thenarrowing-down condition is not selected in the designation screen 50and there is no information regarding the narrowing-down condition inthe designation information, the second calculator 75 does not derivethe variables Y2 to Y7, and derives only the variable Y1.

In FIG. 20, as the narrowing-down condition, the gender “male” and theinpatient/outpatient classification “outpatient” are illustrated by wayof example in the similar manner as FIG. 9. Since the gender “male” andthe inpatient/outpatient classification “outpatient”, which correspondto the narrowing-down condition from the receiving unit 71, are inputtedin the failed image file having the file ID “F0110”, the variable Y3 “1”and the variable Y4 “1” are registered in the item of the file ID“F0110” of the intermediate process data 98.

In contrast, since the gender “female” (abbreviated “F” in the drawings)and the inpatient/outpatient classification “inpatient”, which do notcorrespond to the narrowing-down condition from the receiving unit 71,are inputted in the failed image file having the file ID “F0250”, “0” isregistered as the variables Y3 and Y4 in the item of file ID “F0250” ofthe intermediate process data 98.

In FIG. 21, the second calculator 75 reads out each variable Yj (j=1 to7) from the intermediate process data 98. The second calculator 75calculates a second index value for each failed image file using asecond calculation formula ΣYj for obtaining summation of the variablesYj. The second calculator 75 outputs a calculation result 99 of thesecond index value to the second extractor 74 and the screen outputcontroller 76. Incidentally, as in the case of the first index value,the second index value may be calculated by adding or multiplying anadequate weighting coefficient to each variable Yj. Further, theweighting coefficient may be configured to be settable on the clientterminal 12.

In FIG. 22, the second extractor 74 receives the information regardingthe number of the consideration images from the receiving unit 71 and acalculation result 99 of the second index value from the secondcalculator 75. The second extractor 74 extracts the designated number offailed image files (failed images as the consideration images 26C) basedon the calculation result 99.

More specifically, the second extractor 74 generates intermediateprocess data 103 in which the file IDs of the failed image files of thesearch result 95 are sorted in descending order of the second indexvalue of the calculation result 99. The second extractor 74 registersthe file IDs of the failed image files each having the same second indexvalue in the same rank, and assigns a serial number to each of the fileIDs in ascending order of the number of the file ID. Then, the secondextractor 74 extracts the failed image file in ascending order of theserial number from the failed image file having the file ID assignedwith the serial number “1” in the intermediate process data 103, andstops the extraction at the point of time when the number of extractedfailed image files reaches the designated number. The second extractor74 outputs the failed image files extracted as described above as anextraction result 104 to the screen output controller 76.

Note that, in the case where the number of consideration images is notinputted in the designation screen 50 and there is no informationregarding the number of the consideration images in the designationinformation, ten failed image files having the file IDs assigned withthe serial numbers “1” to “10” are extracted. Further, in the case wherethe number of failed image files of the search result 95 does not reachthe designated number, all the failed image files of the search result95 are extracted regardless of the second index value.

In FIG. 22, the number of consideration images is set to “50”, the fileID “F0110” is registered with the serial number “1”, the file ID “F0113”is registered with the serial number “2”, . . . , the file ID “F0195” isregistered with the serial number “49”, and the file ID “F0200” isregistered with the serial number “50” in the intermediate process data103, and therefore the failed image files having the file IDs “F0110”,“F0113”, . . . , “F0195”, and “F0200” are extracted.

In FIG. 23, after the extraction of the failed image files, the secondextractor 74 searches the diagnostic images as reference images 26R (seeFIG. 27). Specifically, the second extractor 74 outputs a search commanddesignating an imaging menu which is the same as the target menu, apatient ID which is the same as that of the failed image file of theextraction result 104, and an imaging failure flag “0” (diagnostic imagefile) to the imaging failure case example DB 21. In response to thesearch command from the second extractor 74, the imaging failure caseexample DB 21 searches a diagnostic image file, in which an imaging menuthat is the same as the target menu containing the diagnostic image filehaving the same patient ID as that of the failed image file of theextraction result 104 is inputted, and outputs the search result 105 tothe second extractor 74. The second extractor 74 outputs the searchresult 105 to the screen output controller 76. Instead of the patientID, the order ID may be designated by the search command.

In FIG. 23, as the target menu, the target menu “chest part/uprightimaging posture/front” is illustrated by way of example in the similarmanner as FIG. 18 and the like. Therefore, the search result 105consists of the diagnostic image files in each of which the imaging menu“chest part/upright imaging posture/front”is inputted. Further, as thepatient ID of the failed image file of the extraction result 104,“P0050” and “P0070” are illustrated by way of example. Therefore, thediagnostic image files having the patient IDs “P0050” and “P0070”, andthe diagnostic image file having another patient ID such as “P0060” and“P0150” are mixed in the search result 105.

In FIG. 24, the screen output controller 76 receives the informationregarding the staff IDs of the participants from the receiving unit 71,the calculation result 86 of the first index value from the firstcalculator 72, and the extraction result 91 of the target menu from thefirst extractor 73. Further, the screen output controller 76 receivesthe calculation result 99 of the second index value from the secondcalculator 75, the extraction result 104 of the failed image file andthe search result 105 of the diagnostic image file from the secondextractor 74. The screen output controller 76 generates the conferencescreen 30 based on the information regarding the staff IDs of theparticipants, the calculation results 86 and 99, the extraction results91 and 104, and the search result 105.

More specifically, the screen output controller 76 displays theinformation regarding the participants based on the informationregarding the staff IDs of the participants on the conference screen 30.Further, the screen output controller 76 displays the target menu basedon the extraction result 91 on the conference screen 30.

Further, the screen output controller 76 displays the considerationimage 26C based on the extraction result 104 and the reference image 26Rbased on the search result 105 on the conference screen 30. Theconsideration image 26C is the radiographic image 26 (failed image)stored in the image storage 28 of the failed image file of theextraction result 104. The reference image 26R is the radiographic image26 (diagnostic image) stored in the image storage 28 of the diagnosticimage file of the search result 105.

In the case where there are a plurality of the target menus extracted bythe first extractor 73, the screen output controller 76 displays thetarget menus arranged in accordance with the first index values of thecalculation result 86 on the conference screen 30. Further, in the casewhere there are a plurality of the failed image files extracted by thesecond extractor 74, namely, in the case where there are a plurality ofthe consideration images 26C, the screen output controller 76 displaysthe consideration images 26C arranged in accordance with the secondindex values of the calculation result 99 on the conference screen 30.

In FIG. 25 illustrating the conference screen 30 in an initial displaystate, the conference screen 30 includes a target menu display region110, a participant display region 111, a consideration image displayregion 112, a reference image display region 113, and a reference imagecandidate display region 114.

The display state of the target menu display region 110 is in accordancewith the information regarding the staff IDs of the participants, thecalculation result 86 of the first index value, and the extractionresult 91 of the target menu. The target menu display region 110consists of a display field 110A for icons 115 representing individualparticipants and a display field 110B for the target menus. The icon 115in the display field 110A represents that there is the considerationimage 26C captured by the participant represented by the icon 115 amongthe consideration images 26C extracted in accordance with the targetmenu in the display field 110B.

The target menus are arranged from the top in descending order of thefirst index value in the display field 110B. Expand buttons 116 areprovided next to the target menus on one-to-one basis.

The display state of the participant display region 111 is in accordancewith the information regarding the staff IDs of the participants. Theicons 115 and the full names of the participants are displayed in theparticipant display region 111. The icons 115 displayed in theparticipant display region 111 are the same as those displayed in thedisplay field 110A of the target menu display region 110. The icons 115are different from one another in the color and the pattern as shown bythe hatching so as to distinguish the individual participants.

In FIG. 25, three target menus “chest part/upright imagingposture/front”, “chest part/upright imaging posture/rear” (abbreviatedas “C.P./U.I.P./R” in the drawings), and “abdominal part/upright imagingposture/front” are displayed in the display field 110B, by way ofexample. In this case, the target menu “chest part/upright imagingposture/front” displayed at the top in the display order has the largestfirst index value among the three target menus. The target menu“abdominal part/upright imaging posture/front” displayed at the bottomin the display order has the smallest first index value among the threetarget menus.

Further, in FIG. 25, four participants, “Tadashi YAMADA”, “IchiroKAWAMURA”, “Misaki OIWA”, and “Ayaka HYAKUYASU” are displayed by way ofexample in the similar manner as FIG. 8. In the display field 110Acorresponding to the target menu “chest part/upright imagingposture/front” in the display field 110B, for example, the icons 115 ofall the four participants are displayed. Thus, it is represented thatthere are the consideration images 26C captured by the four participantsamong the consideration images 26C extracted regarding the target menu“chest part/upright imaging posture/front”.

The display state of the consideration image display region 112 is inaccordance with the information regarding the staff IDs of theparticipants and the extraction result 104 of the failed image file.Further, the display state of each of the reference image display region113 and the reference image candidate display region 114 is inaccordance with the search result 105 of the diagnostic image file.Incidentally, the display regions 112 to 114 are blank in the initialdisplay state as shown in FIG. 25.

An information button 117 for displaying the accompanying information inassociation with the consideration image 26C, and a note button 118 inwhich notes such as a reason of the imaging failure and what theparticipant says are written are disposed in the upper portion of theconsideration image display region 112. An information button 119 fordisplaying the accompanying information in association with theconsideration image 26R is disposed in the upper portion of thereference image display region 113 as in the case of the informationbutton 117.

In FIG. 26, in the case where the expand button 116 of the desiredtarget menu in the display field 110B is selected using the cursor 56, aconsideration image selection region 120 appears next to the target menudisplay region 110. The target menu of which expand button 116 isselected changes in the color and the pattern as shown by the hatchingso as to be distinguished from the other target menus. Here, an example,in which the target menu “chest part/upright imaging posture/front”displayed at the top is selected, is illustrated.

The display state of the consideration image selection region 120 is inaccordance with the information regarding the staff IDs of theparticipants, the calculation result 99 of the second index value, andthe extraction result 104 of the failed image file. The considerationimage selection region 120 consists of a display field 120A for theicons 115 and a display field 120B for thumbnails 121 of theconsideration images 26C. Further, a scroll bar 122 used for displayinghidden icons 115 and thumbnails 121 is disposed in the considerationimage selection region 120.

The icon 115 in the display field 120A represents that the considerationimage 26C displayed by the thumbnail 121 in the display field 120B wascaptured by the participant corresponding to the icon 15. Further, thethumbnails 121 are arranged in descending order of the second indexvalue in the display field 120B.

In FIG. 27, in the case where a desired thumbnail 121 in the displayfield 120B is selected using the cursor 56, the consideration imageselection region 120 disappears. Then, the consideration image 26C ofwhich thumbnail 121 is selected using the cursor 56, and the icon 115which is the same as that in the display field 120A and corresponds tothe consideration image 26C are displayed in the consideration imagedisplay region 112. Incidentally, among the icons 115 in the participantdisplay region 111, the icon 115 which is the same as that displayed inthe consideration image display region 112 may be highlighted by beingblinked, for example.

The reference image 26R is displayed in the reference image displayregion 113, and thumbnail 123 of the candidate of the reference image26R is displayed in the reference image candidate display region 114,respectively. The thumbnails 123 in the reference image candidatedisplay region 114 are displayed as the candidates of the referenceimages 26R arranged in the upper portion of the reference imagecandidate display region 114 and the candidates of the reference images26R arranged in the lower portion of the reference image candidatedisplay region 114, among the reference images 26R in association withthe imaging menu which is the same as the target menu of which expandbutton 116 is selected. The candidates of the reference images 26Rarranged in the upper portion of the reference image candidate displayregion 114 are associated with a patient different from the imagingtarget of the consideration image 26C displayed in the considerationimage display region 112. The candidates of the reference images 26Rarranged in the lower portion of the reference image candidate displayregion 114 are associated with a patient that is the same as the imagingtarget of the consideration image 26C displayed in the considerationimage display region 112. The reference image 26R to be displayed in thereference image display region 113 can be switched by selecting thethumbnail 123 using the cursor 56. Incidentally, instead of thecandidates of the reference images 26R associated with a patientdifferent from the imaging target of the consideration image 26Cdisplayed in the consideration image display region 112, the referenceimages 26R each of which imaging order is the same as that of theconsideration image 26C displayed in the consideration image displayregion 112 (i.e., the diagnostic images obtained by performing the imagecapturing again after the consideration image 26C as the failed imagewas captured) may be displayed in the upper portion of the referenceimage candidate display region 114.

As shown in FIG. 28, in the case where the information button 117 isselected using the cursor 56, an accompanying information display region124 appears in the consideration image display region 112. Accompanyinginformation associated with the consideration image 26C (e.g., the fileID, date and time of imaging, patient ID, order ID, tube voltage, tubecurrent, irradiation time, and the like) is displayed in theaccompanying information display region 124. Although not shown in thedrawing, in the case where the information button 119 is selected usingthe cursor 56, an accompanying information display region for displayingaccompanying information associated with the reference image 26R appearsin the reference image display region 113. In the case where the notebutton 118 is selected using the cursor 56, a text input box appears onthe conference screen 30, and thereby it become possible to input a notethrough the text input box. The inputted note is associated with theconsideration image 26C, and registered in the imaging failure caseexample DB 21.

An operation of the above configuration is explained hereinbelow byreferring to the flowchart in FIG. 29. At first, as a preparation forthe conference, each of the medical staff members operates the clientterminal 12, and inputs a command for delivering the conference screen30 through the designation screen 50. In response to the command fordelivering the conference screen 30, the browser controller 46 generatesdesignation information. Then, as shown in step S100, the deliveryrequest for the conference screen 30 containing the designationinformation is issued from the browser controller 46 to the failed imagemanagement server 13.

On the designation screen 50, it is possible to designate the number ofthe target menus to be extracted, the number of the consideration images26C to be extracted, a calculation target period in which the firstindex value is calculated, and an extraction target period in which theconsideration image 26C is extracted. Since it becomes possible todesignate the number of the target menus, the number of theconsideration images, the calculation target period, and the extractiontarget period as described above, the consideration with the focus onmain points can be performed within a limited consideration time.

In the failed image management server 13, a delivery request is receivedby the receiving unit 71 (step S200). The information regarding thestaff IDs of the participants and the information regarding the periodin the designation information contained in the delivery request aretransmitted to the first calculator 72.

The information regarding the number of target menus is outputted to thefirst extractor 73. The information regarding the number ofconsideration images 26C and the information regarding the period areoutputted to the second extractor 74. The information regarding thestaff IDs of the participants and the information regarding thenarrowing-down condition are outputted to the second calculator 75. Theinformation regarding the staff IDs of the participants is outputted tothe screen output controller 76.

The first index value is calculated by the first calculator 72 (stepS210). The calculation result 86 of the first index value is outputtedto the first extractor 73 and the screen output controller 76.

The first index value is calculated using the first calculation formulaΣXi having the variable X1 based on the number of times of occurrence ofimaging failure for each imaging menu and the variable X2 based on therate of occurrence of imaging failure for each imaging menu. Therefore,the first index value is based on both of the number of times ofoccurrence of imaging failure for each imaging menu and the rate ofoccurrence of imaging failure for each imaging menu. Consequently, thefirst index value makes it possible to know exactly the imaging failurestate for each imaging menu.

The first calculation formula ΣXi has not only the variables X1 and X2but also the variables X3, X5, X7, and X9 based on the number of timesof occurrence of imaging failure for each imaging menu for eachparticipant and the variables X4, X6, X8, and X10 based on the rate ofoccurrence of imaging failure for each imaging menu for eachparticipant. Therefore, the first index value is also based on theimaging failure state for each imaging menu for each participant.

Further, the first calculation formula ΣXi also has the variable X11based on the number of times of occurrence of imaging failure for eachimaging menu in the image capturing corresponding to the same imagingorder, and the variable X12 based on the number of times of occurrenceof imaging failure for each imaging menu in the image capturingcorresponding to the same patient. Therefore, the first index value isalso based on the imaging failure state in the image capturingcorresponding to the same imaging order and the imaging failure state inthe image capturing corresponding to the same patient.

In the first extractor 73, based on the calculation result 86 of thefirst index value, the designated number of the target menus areextracted (step S220). Specifically, the first extractor 73 extracts theimaging menu as the target menu in order of rank of the first indexvalue from first place, and stops the extraction at the point of timewhen the number of extracted target menus reaches the designated number.The first extractor 73 outputs the extraction result 91 of the targetmenus extracted as described above to the second extractor 74 and thescreen output controller 76.

In this embodiment, the first index value is summation of the variablesXi as expressed by the first calculation formula ΣXi. Therefore, thefirst index value is increased as the number of times of occurrence ofimaging failure is increased at the same time as the rate of occurrenceof imaging failure is increased and as the variables Xi become larger,namely, as the frequency of imaging failure is increased. Concurrently,the rank of the first index value becomes higher. Consequently, theimaging menu having the first index value of which rank is relativelyhigh is an imaging menu of which frequency of imaging failure isrelatively high.

In this embodiment, since the imaging menu having the first index valueof which rank is relatively high is automatically extracted as thetarget menu by the first extractor 73, the imaging menu of whichfrequency of imaging failure is relatively low is extracted anddesignated. Therefore, there is no fear that useless consideration isperformed and results in waste of precious time of the medical staffmembers, and it becomes possible for the medical staff members toperform the consideration for reliably achieving decrease in thefrequency of imaging failure.

Further, since the target menu is automatically extracted, it isunnecessary for the medical staff members to know exactly the imagingfailure state for each imaging menu in order to extract and designatethe imaging menu of which frequency of imaging failure is relativelyhigh. Consequently, it is possible to decrease a burden on each of themedical staff members, such that the medical staff members cansufficiently consider improvement on the image capturing.

At the conference, it is preferable that not the radiographic image 26captured by a person other than the participants but the radiographicimage 26 captured by one of the participants is viewed as theconsideration image 26C, because the radiographic image 26 captured byone of the participants is more familiar to the participants and theconsideration proceeds.

In this embodiment, the imaging failure state of each imaging menu ofeach participant is taken consideration into the first index value dueto the variables X3 to X10 as described above. Therefore, as the numberof times of occurrence of imaging failure of the participant isincreased at the same time as the rate of occurrence of imaging failureof the participant is increased, the imaging menu has the first indexvalue of which rank is higher, and thus the imaging menu tends to befrequently extracted as the target menu by the first extractor 73.Consequently, the probability of the radiographic image 26 captured byone of the participants being viewed as the consideration image 26C isincreased.

In the case where the image capturing corresponding to the same imagingorder or the image capturing corresponding to the same patient failsmany times, the necessity of considering improvement on the imagecapturing is high, in order to prevent repeated failures and preventincrease in the frequency of imaging failure.

In this embodiment, the imaging failure state in the image capturingcorresponding to the same imaging order and the imaging failure state inthe image capturing corresponding to the same patient are takenconsideration into the first index value due to the variables X11 andX12 as described above. Therefore, in the case where the image capturingcorresponding to the same imaging order or the image capturingcorresponding to the same patient fails many times, the imaging menu hasthe first index value of which rank is higher, and thus the imaging menutends to be frequently extracted as the target menu by the firstextractor 73. Consequently, the probability of the radiographic image 26obtained in the failed image capturing corresponding to the same imagingorder or the same the patient being viewed as the consideration image26C is increased.

The second extractor 74 acquires the search result 95 of the failedimage file, in which the imaging menu that is the same as the targetmenu is inputted, from the imaging failure case example DB 21. Thesearch result 95 is outputted to the second calculator 75.

The second calculator 75 calculates the second index value regarding thefailed image file of the search result 95 (step S230). The calculationresult 99 of the second index value is outputted to the second extractor74 and the screen output controller 76.

The second extractor 74 extracts the designated number of the failedimage files (consideration images 26C) based on the calculation result99 of the second index value (step S240). Specifically, the secondextractor 74 extracts the failed image file in order of rank of thesecond index value from first place, and stops the extraction at thepoint of time when the number of failed image files reaches thedesignated number. The extraction result 104 of the failed image filethus extracted is outputted to the screen output controller 76.

The second index value is calculated using the second calculationformula ΣYj having the variable Y1 based on whether or not the failedimage file of the search result 95 is associated with the participant.Therefore, in the failed image file in which the staff ID that is thesame as that of the participant is inputted, the second index valuebecomes larger, and the rank of the second index value becomes higher.Thus, the failed image file in which the staff ID that is the same asthat of the participant is inputted can be preferentially extracted.

Further, the second calculation formula ΣYj has the variables Y2 to Y7corresponding to the narrowing-down condition, in addition to thevariable Y1, and therefore the failed image file in which accompanyinginformation corresponding to the narrowing-down condition is inputtedhas the larger second index value, and the rank of the second indexvalue becomes higher. Thus, the failed image file in which theaccompanying information corresponding to the narrowing-down conditionis inputted can be preferentially extracted.

The search result 105 of the diagnostic image file, in which the imagingmenu that is the same as the target menu containing the diagnostic imagefile having the patient ID that is the same as that of the failed imagefile of the extraction result 104 is inputted, is acquired as thereference image 26R by the second extractor 74 from the imaging failurecase example DB 21 (step S250). The search result 105 is outputted tothe screen output controller 76.

The screen output controller 76 generates the conference screen 30 basedon the information regarding the staff IDs of the participants, thecalculation result 86 of the first index value, the extraction result 91of the target menu, the calculation result 99 of the second index value,the extraction result 104 of the failed image file, and the searchresult 105 of the diagnostic image file. The XML data of the conferencescreen 30 is outputted from the screen output controller 76 to theclient terminal 12 as the requestor of the delivery request (step S260).

In the client terminal 12, the XML data of the conference screen 30 isreceived by the browser controller 46 (step S110). Based on the XMLdata, the browser controller 46 reproduces the conference screen 30 tobe displayed on the web browser, and the GUI controller 45 displays theconference screen 30 on the display panel 39A (step S120).

On the conference screen 30, the target menu is displayed in the targetmenu display region 110, and the consideration image 26C is displayed inthe consideration image display region 112. The participants of theconference view the conference screen 30 and consider improvement on theimage capturing.

In the target menu display region 110, the target menus are arranged indescending order of the first index value. Further, in the considerationimage selection region 120, the thumbnails 121 of the considerationimages 26C are arranged in descending order of the second index value.In the case where there are two or more target menus or considerationimages 26C, it is possible to easily find and select the target menu orthe consideration image 26C which is highly beneficial in sufficientlydecreasing the frequency of imaging failure.

The icon 115 representing the individual participant is displayed in thedisplay field 110A of the target menu display region 110. The icon 115is useful in noticing the existence of the consideration image 26Ccaptured by the participant represented by the icon 115 among theconsideration images 26C extracted regarding the target menu in thedisplay field 110B, and the icon 115 can be referred to in selecting thetarget menu.

Further, the icon 115 is also displayed in the display field 120A of theconsideration image selection region 12. The icon 115 is useful inknowing that the consideration image 26C displayed using the thumbnail121 in the display field 120B was captured by the participantrepresented by the icon 115, and the icon 115 can be referred to inselecting the consideration image 26C.

Note that, instead of or in addition to displaying the icon 115, thetarget menu corresponding to the consideration image 26C captured by theparticipant, or the thumbnail 121 of the consideration image 26Ccaptured by the participant may be displayed distinctively from others.

Not only the consideration image 26C but also the reference image 26R isdisplayed on the conference screen 30. Further, by selecting theinformation buttons 117 and 119 with use of the cursor 56, theaccompanying information in association with the consideration image 26Cand the accompanying information in association with the reference image26R can be displayed, respectively. Therefore, it is possible to comparethe consideration image 26C with the reference image 26R and compare theaccompanying information in association with the consideration image 26Cand the accompanying information in association with the reference image26R. For example, after confirmation of the imaging condition in each ofthe accompanying information in association with the consideration image26C and the accompanying information in association with the referenceimage 26R, it is possible to give a tutorial on the setting of theimaging condition for the purpose of preventing failure.

Note that, a frame-feed button and a frame-reverse button for manuallyswitching the display between the consideration image 26C and thereference image 26R may be disposed in the consideration image displayregion 112 and the reference image display region 113. The frame feedingmay be automatically performed at regular time intervals so as todisplay the consideration image 26C in the consideration image displayregion 112. In this case, it is preferable that the consideration images26C are displayed in descending order of the second index value.

In the first embodiment described above, as illustrated by thethumbnails 121 in the display field 120B of the consideration imageselection region 120, the consideration images 26C are displayed inaccordance with the second index value. However, the arrangement fordisplaying the consideration images 26C is not limited thereto. Theconsideration images 26C may be displayed with the display size and thedisplay position in accordance with the second index value.

Specifically, as in the case of a consideration image selection region130 shown in FIG. 30, each of the thumbnails 121 of the considerationimages 26C is displayed with the display size and the display positionin accordance with the second index value. Namely, as the rank of thesecond index value of the consideration image 26C represented by thethumbnail 121 is higher, the display size of the thumbnail 121 becomeslarger, and as the rank of the second index value of the considerationimage 26C represented by the thumbnail 121 is higher, the displayposition of the thumbnail 121 becomes nearer to the center of theconsideration image selection region 130. As described above, in thecase where each of the consideration images 26C is displayed with thedisplay size and the display position in accordance with the secondindex value, the consideration image 26C having the second index valueranked at relatively high place is selected more frequently due in partto a visual effect. Incidentally, as in the case of the considerationimage selection region 120, the icon 115 may be displayed at the upperportion of the thumbnail 121 or the like.

In the first embodiment, based on the second index value calculated bythe second calculator 75, the second extractor 74 determines the failedimage as the consideration image 26C. However, the failed image as theconsideration image 26C may not be determined based on the second indexvalue. In this case, the second calculator 75 is not established in theCPU 37B, and the second extractor 74 extracts the failed image file ofthe search result 95 in reverse chronological order of date and time ofimaging. Further, the second extractor 74 displays the thumbnails 121 ofthe consideration images 26C in reverse chronological order of date andtime of imaging in the consideration image selection region 120.

Second Embodiment

In the first embodiment, the first calculation formula ΣXi having atleast the variable X1 based on the number of times of occurrence ofimaging failure for each imaging menu and the variable X2 based on therate of occurrence of imaging failure for each imaging menu is used tocalculate the first index value. However, according to a secondembodiment illustrated in FIG. 31 to FIG. 38, the first index value iscalculated using the first calculation formula having at least avariable based on an increasing rate of the frequency of imaging failurefor each imaging menu.

Note that, in the second embodiment, the period designated in the iteminput region 52 of the designation screen 50 is only the extractiontarget period. Further, in the second embodiment, the staff ID of theparticipant who attends the current conference is described as thecurrent staff ID.

In FIG. 31, Upon the startup of the failed image management program 70,a reading/writing (hereinafter abbreviated as R/W) controller 77 isestablished in the CPU 37B of the failed image management server 13, inaddition to the respective components 71 to 76 of the first embodiment.

The R/W controller 77 controls writing and reading of conference historyinformation 78 stored in the storage device 35B. The R/W controller 77outputs the conference history information 78 to the first calculator72.

The conference history information 78 is information representing thehistory of the conference held previously. Specifically, as shown inFIG. 32, the conference history information 78 consists of summary data78A representing the summary of the previous conference and data 78B onthe number of times of occurrence of imaging failure. The date of theprevious conference, the staff IDs of the participants who attended theprevious conference (hereinafter referred to as previous staff IDs), andthe target menu extracted by the first extractor 73 at the previousconference (hereinafter referred to as previous target menu) areinputted in the summary data 78A. The data 78B on the number of times ofoccurrence of imaging failure represents the number of times ofoccurrence of imaging failure for each imaging menu in a period from thefollowing day of the date of the last but one conference to the previousconference (hereinafter referred to as previous number of times ofoccurrence of imaging failure).

In FIG. 32, “2015.02.27” as the date of the previous conference, “R0001,R0004, R0007, R0008” as the previous staff ID, and “chest part/uprightimaging posture/front, chest part/upright imaging posture/rear” as theprevious target menu are illustrated by way of example. Additionally, asthe previous number of times of occurrence of imaging failure, “15”corresponds to the imaging menu “chest part/upright imagingposture/front”, and “30” corresponds to the imaging menu “chestpart/upright imaging posture/rear”.

In FIG. 33, the first calculator 72 outputs the search commanddesignating the period and an imaging failure flag “1” (failed imagefile) to the imaging failure case example DB 21. In this case, theperiod designated by the search command is the period from the followingday of the date of the previous conference inputted in the summary data78A of the conference history information 78 from the R/W controller 77to the date on which the delivery request is received by the receivingunit 71, namely, the date of the current conference (hereinafterreferred to as previous-current period). The imaging failure caseexample DB 21 searches the failed image file, in which the date and timeof imaging in the previous-current period is inputted, in response tothe search command from the first calculator 72, and outputs a searchresult 140 to the first calculator 72.

Note that, in the case where the current conference is a conference heldfor the first time and the conference history information 78 is notstored in the storage device 35B, all the failed image files in theimaging failure case example DB 21 are outputted as the search result140 from the imaging failure case example DB 21 to the first calculator72.

In FIG. 33, the period from “2015.02.28” that is the following day ofthe date of the previous conference “2015.02.27” shown in FIG. 32 to“2015.03.27” that is the date of the current conference is illustratedas the previous-current period. Therefore, the search result 140consists of the failed image files in each of which the date and time ofimaging corresponding to the previous-current period “from 2015.02.28 to2015.03.27” is inputted.

In FIG. 34, the first calculator 72 generates intermediate process data141 based on the search result 140. Specifically, the first calculator72 focuses attention on the imaging menu of the failed image file of thesearch result 140, and counts the number of times of occurrence ofimaging failure for each imaging menu based on the number of the failedimage files for each imaging menu. For example, in the case of theimaging menu “chest part/upright imaging posture/front”, “40” is countedas the number of times of occurrence of imaging failure. The number oftimes of occurrence of imaging failure thus counted is the number oftimes of occurrence of imaging failure for each imaging menu in theprevious-current period (hereinafter, referred to as current number oftimes of occurrence of imaging failure). After counting the currentnumber of times of occurrence of imaging failure, the first calculator72 outputs the intermediate process data 141 to the R/W controller 77.

In FIG. 35, the first calculator 72 further generates intermediateprocess data 142 based on the conference history information 78 from theR/W controller 77 and the intermediate process data 141. Specifically,the first calculator 72 registers the previous number of times ofoccurrence of imaging failure from the data 78B on the number of timesof occurrence of imaging failure of the conference history information78, and the current number of times of occurrence of imaging failurefrom the intermediate process data 141, respectively in the intermediateprocess data 142. Then, the first calculator 72 calculates increment ordecrement (abbreviated as “IN. OR DE.” in the drawings) by subtractingthe previous number of times of occurrence of imaging failure from thecurrent number of times of occurrence of imaging failure, and dividesthe increment or decrement by the previous number of times of occurrenceof imaging failure, so as to calculate an increasing rate, for eachimaging menu.

In the case of the imaging menu “chest part/upright imagingposture/front”, for example, the previous number of times of occurrenceof imaging failure is “15”, the current number of times of occurrence ofimaging failure is “40”, and the increment or decrement obtained bysubtracting 15 from 40 equals to “25”, and the increasing rate isexpressed by 25/15×100≈167, namely approximately equals to “167%”. Inthe case of the imaging menu “abdominal part/upright imagingposture/rear” (abbreviated as “A.P./U.I.P./R” in the drawings), theprevious number of times of occurrence of imaging failure is “36”, thecurrent number of times of occurrence of imaging failure is “25”, andthe increment or decrement obtained by subtracting 36 from 25 equals to“−11”, and therefore the increasing rate is expressed by −11/36×100≈−31,namely approximately equals to “−31%”.

Subsequently, the first calculator 72 derives a variable Z1 based on theincreasing rate of the number of times of occurrence of imaging failurefor each imaging menu in accordance with a table 144 according toincreasing rate and variable.

The table 144 according to increasing rate and variable is a data tablein which the variable corresponding to the increasing rate isregistered, and stored in the storage device 35B, for example. Here, avariable “10” for the increasing rate of 100% or more, a variable “9”for the increasing rate of 90% or more to less than 100%, . . . , avariable “2” for the increasing rate of 20% or more to less than 30%,and a variable “1” for the increasing rate of 10% or more to less than20% are registered. Namely, the variable is decreased by one from “10”corresponding to the increasing rate of 100% for every 10%. A variable“0” is registered for the increasing rate of less than 10%.

In the case of the imaging menu “chest part/upright imagingposture/front”, for example, the increasing rate is “167%”, namely, inthe range of 100% or more, and therefore “10” is derived as the variableZ1 and registered in the intermediate process data 142. In the case ofthe imaging menu “abdominal part/upright imaging posture/rear”, theincreasing rate is “−31%”, namely in the range of less than 10%, andtherefore “0” is derived as variable Z1 and registered in theintermediate process data 142.

Further, the first calculator 72 also derives a variable Z2 based on theincreasing rate of the number of times of occurrence of imaging failureof the previous target menu in the summary data 78A of the conferencehistory information 78 in accordance with the table 144 according toincreasing rate and variable. The first calculator 72 derives thevariable Z2 only for the imaging menu corresponding to the previoustarget menu among the imaging menus. Incidentally, how to derive thevariable Z2 is the same as that of the variable Z1.

In FIG. 35, as the previous target menu, “chest part/upright imagingposture/front, chest part/upright imaging posture/rear”, which is thesame as that in FIG. 32, is illustrated. As the variable Z2 of theimaging menu “chest part/upright imaging posture/front” corresponding tothe previous target menu, “10” is derived as in the case of the variableZ1, and registered in the intermediate process data 142. Further, as thevariable Z2 of the imaging menu “chest part/upright imagingposture/rear”, “3” is derived as in the case of the variable Z1, andregistered in the intermediate process data 142. Regarding the imagingmenus “abdominal part/upright imaging posture/front” and “abdominalpart/upright imaging posture/rear”, each of which does not correspond tothe previous target menu, the variable Z2 is not derived as shown bydiagonal lines in the drawing, and not registered.

Further, the first calculator 72 also derives a variable Z3 regardingthe imaging menu which is not extracted as the previous target menu. Thefirst calculator 72 derives the variable Z3 only for the imaging menuwhich does not correspond to the previous target menu among the imagingmenus.

In FIG. 35, “5” is registered as the variable Z3, without exception, forthe imaging menus “abdominal part/upright imaging posture/front” and“abdominal part/upright imaging posture/rear”each of which does notcorrespond to the previous target menu. The variable Z3 is not derivedfor the imaging menus “chest part/upright imaging posture/front” and“chest part/upright imaging posture/rear” each of which corresponds tothe previous target menu as shown by diagonal lines in the drawing, andnot registered.

In FIG. 36, the first calculator 72 receives the information regardingthe current staff ID from the receiving unit 71. The first calculator 72generates intermediate process data 143 based on the informationregarding the current staff IDs, the information regarding the previousstaff IDs and the previous target menu which is inputted in the summarydata 78A of the conference history information 78 of the R/W controller77, and the search result 140.

Specifically, the first calculator 72 focuses attention on the imagingmenu of the failed image file of the search result 140 and the staffIDs, and counts the number of times of occurrence of imaging failure ofthe imaging menu corresponding to the previous target menu based on theimaging menu corresponding to the previous target menu and the number offailed image files in each of which the staff ID as both of the previousstaff ID and the current staff ID is inputted.

The participant having the staff ID as both of the previous staff ID andthe current staff ID is a participant who attended the previousconference and is designated to attend the current conference(hereinafter, referred to as consecutive participant). The number oftimes of occurrence of imaging failure thus counted is the number oftimes of occurrence of imaging failure for the imaging menucorresponding to the previous target menu made by the consecutiveparticipant in the previous-current period.

After counting the number of times of occurrence of imaging failure, thefirst calculator 72 derives a variable Z4 based on whether or not theconsecutive participant failed in the image capturing of the previoustarget menu. Here, as the variable Z4, a numerical value that is equalto the counted number of times of occurrence of imaging failure isderived. The first calculator 72 derives the variable Z4 only for theimaging menu corresponding to the previous target menu among the imagingmenus.

In FIG. 36, as the current staff IDs, the staff IDs “R0001”, “R0002”,“R0005”, and “R0008” are illustrated in the same manner as in FIG. 9.Additionally, as the previous staff IDs, the staff IDs “R0001”, “R0004”,“R0007”, and “R0008” which are the same as those in FIG. 32 areillustrated, and as the previous target menu, the imaging menu “chestpart/upright imaging posture/front, chest part/upright imagingposture/rear” which is the same as that in FIG. 32 is illustrated. Thestaff ID as both of the previous staff ID and the current staff ID is“R0001” and “R0008”.

Further, FIG. 36 illustrates the case where there are three failed imagefiles in each of which the imaging menu “chest part/upright imagingposture/front” corresponding to the target menu and the staff ID “R0001”or “R0008” are inputted, and one failed image file in which the imagingmenu “chest part/upright imaging posture/rear” corresponding to thetarget menu and the staff ID “R0008” are inputted, in the search result140.

In this case, “3” is registered as the number of times of occurrence ofimaging failure in the item of the imaging menu “chest part/uprightimaging posture/front” in the intermediate process data 143, and “1” isregistered as the number of times of occurrence of imaging failure inthe item of the imaging menu “chest part/upright imaging posture/rear”in the intermediate process data 143, respectively. Additionally, “3” isderived and registered as the variable Z4 for the imaging menu “chestpart/upright imaging posture/front”, and “1” is derived and registeredas the variable Z4 for the imaging menu “imaging menu “chestpart/upright imaging posture/rear”, respectively. An item is notprovided for the imaging menu which does not correspond to the previoustarget menu in the intermediate process data 143, and therefore thevariable Z4 is not derived and not registered.

In FIG. 37, the first calculator 72 reads out each variable Zk (k=1 to4) from each of the intermediate process data 142 and 143. The firstcalculator 72 calculates the first index value for each imaging menuusing a first calculation formula ΣZk for obtaining summation of thevariables Zk. The first calculator 72 outputs a calculation result 146of the first index value to the first extractor 73 and the screen outputcontroller 76.

The first index value may be calculated by adding or multiplying anadequate weighting coefficient to each variable Zk. For example, “10” isadded to the variable Z1 based on the increasing rate of the number oftimes of occurrence of imaging failure for each imaging menu.Alternatively, the variable Z4 based on whether or not the consecutiveparticipant failed in the image capturing corresponding to the previoustarget menu is multiplied by “2”. In this case, the weightingcoefficient may be configured to be settable on the client terminal 12.

The subsequent process is approximately the same as that of the abovefirst embodiment, and therefore only the difference in the processbetween this embodiment and the above first embodiment is describedhereinbelow.

Firstly, the first extractor 73 adds the extraction result 91 of theextracted target menu to the second extractor 74 and the screen outputcontroller 76, and outputs it to the R/W controller 77.

Further, as shown in FIG. 38, the R/W controller 77 receives theinformation regarding the current staff ID from the receiving unit 71,the intermediate process data 141 of the current number of times ofoccurrence of imaging failure from the first calculator 72, and theextraction result 91 of the target menu from the first extractor 73. TheR/W controller 77 updates the conference history information 78 based onthe information regarding the current staff IDs, the intermediateprocess data 141, and the extraction result 91.

Specifically, the R/W controller 77 rewrites the date of the previousconference in the summary data 78A to the date on which the deliveryrequest was received by the receiving unit 71, namely, the date of thecurrent conference, rewrites the previous staff IDs to the current staffIDs received from the receiving unit 71, and rewrites the previoustarget menu to the target menu of the extraction result 91. Further, theR/W controller 77 replaces the data 78B on the number of times ofoccurrence of imaging failure with the intermediate process data 141.

According to this embodiment, the first index value is calculated usingthe first calculation formula ρZk having the variable Z1 based on theincreasing rate of the number of times of occurrence of imaging failurefor each imaging menu. Therefore, the first index value is based on theincreasing rate of the number of times of occurrence of imaging failurefor each imaging menu. Consequently, the first index value makes itpossible to know exactly the imaging failure state for each imagingmenu.

The first calculation formula ρZk has not only the variable Z1 but alsothe variable Z2 based on the increasing rate of the number of times ofoccurrence of imaging failure of the previous target menu. Therefore,the first index value is based on the imaging failure state of theprevious target menu in the previous-current period.

Further, the first calculation formula ρZk also has the variable Z3regarding the imaging menu which was not extracted as the previoustarget menu. Therefore, the first index value is also based on theimaging menu which does not correspond to the previous target menu.

Furthermore, the first calculation formula ρZk has the variable Z4 basedon whether or not the consecutive participant failed in the imagecapturing of the previous target menu. Therefore, the first index valueis also based on whether or not the consecutive participant failed inthe image capturing of the imaging menu corresponding to the previoustarget menu in the previous-current period.

According to this embodiment, the first index value is the summation ofthe variables Zk as expressed by the first calculation formula ρZk.Therefore, as the increasing rate of the number of times of occurrenceof imaging failure is higher and the variable Zk is larger, namely, asthe increasing rate of the frequency of imaging failure is higher, thefirst index value is increased and the first index value is ranked athigher place. Consequently, the imaging menu having the first indexvalue of which rank is relatively high is an imaging menu of whichincreasing rate of the frequency of imaging failure is relatively high.

According to this embodiment, since the imaging menu having the firstindex value of which rank is relatively high is automatically extractedas the target menu by the first extractor 73, the imaging menu of whichincreasing rate of the frequency of imaging failure is relatively low isextracted and designated. Therefore, there is no fear that uselessconsideration is performed and results in waste of precious time of themedical staff members, and it becomes possible for the medical staffmembers to perform the consideration for reliably suppressing theincrease in the frequency of imaging failure.

Further, since the target menu is automatically extracted, it isunnecessary for the medical staff members to know exactly the imagingfailure state for each imaging menu in order to extract and designatethe imaging menu of which increasing rate of the frequency of imagingfailure is relatively high. Consequently, it is possible to decrease aburden on each of the medical staff members, such that the medical staffmembers can sufficiently consider improvement on the image capturing.

In the case where the increasing rate of the number of times ofoccurrence of imaging failure of the previous target menu extracted atthe previous conference becomes relatively lower at the currentconference, it is represented that the consideration at the previousconference was useful and the imaging skill for the previous target menuhas been improved. In contrast, in the case where the increasing rate ofthe number of times of occurrence of imaging failure of the previoustarget menu extracted at the previous conference becomes relativelyhigher at the current conference, it is represented that theconsideration at the previous conference was not sufficient and theimaging skill for the previous target menu has not been improved yet.

In the case where the increasing rate of the number of times ofoccurrence of imaging failure of the previous target menu becomesrelatively higher at the current conference, it is preferable that theprevious target menu is extracted as the target menu also at the currentconference and the radiographic image 26, which was obtained by thefailed image capturing of the imaging menu corresponding to the previoustarget menu is viewed as the consideration image 26C, because theconsideration can be consecutively performed from the previousconference and the improvement on the image capturing can be studiedagain.

In this embodiment, the first index value is based on the imagingfailure state of the previous target menu in the previous-current periodusing the variable Z2 as described above. Therefore, the previous targetmenu, in which the increasing rate of the number of times of occurrenceof imaging failure is relatively high, has the first index value rankedat higher place, and tends to be frequently extracted as the target menuby the first extractor 73. Consequently, the probability of theradiographic image 26 obtained by the failed image capturing of theimaging menu corresponding to the previous target menu being viewed asthe consideration image 26C is increased.

In contrast, in the case where the increasing rate of the number oftimes of occurrence of imaging failure of the previous target menubecomes relatively lower at the current conference, it is preferablethat not the previous target menu but the imaging menu which does notcorrespond to the previous target menu is extracted as the target menuand the radiographic image 26 obtained by the failed image capturing ofthe imaging menu which does not correspond to the previous target menuis viewed as the consideration image 26C at the current conference,because it is possible to prevent the increase in the frequency ofimaging failure for each imaging menu equally for each imaging menu.

In this embodiment, the first index value is based on the imaging menuwhich does not correspond to the previous target menu using the variableZ3 as described above. Therefore, in the case where the increasing rateof the number of times of occurrence of imaging failure of the previoustarget menu becomes relatively lower at the current conference, theimaging menu which does not correspond to the previous target menu hasthe first index value ranked at higher place, and tends to be extractedfrequently as the target menu by the first extractor 73. Consequently,the probability of the radiographic image 26 obtained by the failedimage capturing of the imaging menu which does not correspond to theprevious target menu being viewed as the consideration image 26C isincreased.

Further, in the case where the consecutive participant failed in theimage capturing of the imaging menu corresponding to the previous targetmenu in the previous-current period, it is represented that theconsideration at the previous conference was not sufficient and theimaging skill of the consecutive participant has not been improved yet.

In such a case, in order to prevent a situation that the consecutiveparticipant repeats the failure hereafter and the increasing rate of thefrequency of imaging failure is increased, the necessity of consideringimprovement on the image capturing is high. Therefore, it is preferablethat the radiographic image 26 obtained in the failed image capturing ofthe imaging menu corresponding to the previous target menu by theconsecutive participant in the previous-current period is viewed as theconsideration image 26C.

In this embodiment, the first index value is based on whether or not theconsecutive participant failed in the image capturing of the imagingmenu corresponding to the previous target menu in the previous-currentperiod using the variable Z4 as described above. Therefore, the previoustarget menu, for which the number of times of occurrence of imagingfailure made by the consecutive participant in the previous-currentperiod is larger, has the first index value ranked at higher place, andtends to be extracted frequently as the target menu by the firstextractor 73. Consequently, the probability of the radiographic image 26obtained by the failed image capturing of the imaging menu correspondingto the previous target menu by the consecutive participant in theprevious-current period being viewed as the consideration image 26C isincreased.

Further, also in this embodiment, as in the case of the above firstembodiment, the target menus are arranged in descending order of thefirst index value in the target menu display region 110. Furthermore,the thumbnails 121 of the consideration images 26C are arranged indescending order of the second index value in the consideration imageselection region 120. In the case where there are two or more targetmenus or consideration images 26C, it is possible to easily find andselect the target menu or the consideration image 26C which is highlybeneficial in sufficiently suppressing the increasing rate of thefrequency of imaging failure.

Third Embodiment

Note that, in the case where there are no staff IDs of the participants(referred to as current staff IDs in the second embodiment) in thefailed image file of the search result 95 searched by the secondextractor 74 based on the target menu, it turns out that theconsideration images 26C all of which were captured by a person otherthan the participants are viewed. As described above, at the conference,not the radiographic image 26 captured by a person other than theparticipants but the radiographic image 26 captured by the participantis preferably viewed as the consideration image 26C, and therefore it isnot a preferable situation that the consideration images 26C all ofwhich were captured by a person other than the participants are viewed.

Accordingly, in this embodiment, in the case where there are no staffIDs of the participants in the failed image file of the search result95, the second extractor 74 replaces the target menu with another one tosearch the failed image file again. Until the failed image file in whichthe staff ID of the participant is inputted is retrieved, thereplacement of the target menus and the search for the failed image fileare repeated.

In this case, the receiving unit 71 outputs the information regardingthe staff IDs of the participants to the second extractor 74. Asillustrated in step S500 of FIG. 39, the second extractor 74 receivesthe information regarding the staff IDs of the participants from thereceiving unit 71. As with the case shown in FIG. 19, the secondextractor 74 searches the failed image file, in which the imaging menuthat is the same as the target menu is inputted, from the imagingfailure case example DB 21 (step S510). Then, the second extractor 74compares the staff ID inputted in the searched failed image file withthe staff IDs of the participants received from the receiving unit 71(step S520).

As a result of the comparison, there are no failed image files, in eachof which the staff IDs of the participants are inputted, among thesearched failed image files (NO in step S530), the target menu used tosearch the failed image file in step S510 is replaced with anothertarget menu (step S540). Thereafter, the new target menu is used tosearch the failed image file again in step S510.

Until the failed image file in which the staff ID of the participant isinputted is retrieved (YES in step S530), the second extractor 74repeats the replacement of the target menus in step S540 and the searchfor the failed image file in step S510.

The target menu replaced by the second extractor 74 is an imaging menuhaving the first index value ranked at first place among the imagingmenus which were not extracted as the target menu by the first extractor73, for example. By referring to FIG. 18 as an example, in the casewhere there is no staff ID of the participant in the failed image filein which the imaging menu “chest part/upright imaging posture/front”having the first index value ranked at first place is inputted, theimaging menu is replaced with the imaging menu “cephalic part/sittingimaging posture/front” having the first index value ranked at secondplace, and the failed image file is searched again. In the case wherethere is no staff ID of the participant in the searched failed imagefile in which the imaging menu “cephalic part/sitting imagingposture/front ” having the first index value ranked at second place isinputted, the imaging menu is replaced with the imaging menu “abdominalpart/upright imaging posture/rear” having the first index value rankedat third place, and the failed image file is searched again.

As a result, since there is inevitably the radiographic image 26captured by the participant as the consideration image 26C, it ispossible to avoid the situation that the consideration images 26C all ofwhich were captured by a person other than the participants are viewed.Incidentally, in this case, there is a fear that the imaging menu havingthe first index value ranked at relatively lower place is retrieved asthe target menu as a result of the replacement of the target menus, andtherefore a mark for indicating that the target menu is a replaced onemay be displayed in the display field 110B of the target menu displayregion 110, for example, so as to draw participant's attention.

Forth Embodiment

In the case where there are two or more target menus extracted by thefirst extractor 73, in comparison between the target menu having thefirst index value ranked at relatively higher place and the target menuhaving the first index value ranked at relatively lower place, thefrequency of imaging failure or the increasing rate of the frequency ofimaging failure is higher and the imaging failure state is poor in thetarget menu having the first index value ranked at relatively higherplace. Therefore, the consideration image 26C of the target menu havingthe first index value ranked at relatively higher place is preferablyviewed, such that the effect of decreasing the frequency of imagingfailure or suppressing the increase in the frequency of imaging failureis achieved.

Accordingly, in this embodiment, the number of the consideration images26C to be extracted by the second extractor 74 is increased for thefailed image file corresponding to the target menu having the firstindex value ranked at relatively higher place and worse imaging failurestate.

In this case, the second extractor 74 generates intermediate processdata 145 shown in FIG. 40. An allocation rate of the number of thefailed image files to be extracted as the consideration images 26C (thenumber of the consideration images 26C to be extracted) for each ofthree target menus 1, 2, and 3, for example, is calculated based on thefirst index value and registered in the intermediate process data 145.Incidentally, the target menu 1 has the first index value of “100”ranked at first place, the target menu 2 has the first index value of“70” ranked at second place, and the target menu 3 has the first indexvalue of “30” ranked at third place.

The allocation rate of the number of the failed image files to beextracted as the consideration image 26C is calculated by dividing thefirst index value of each of the target menus 1 to 3 by summation of thefirst index values of the target menus 1 to 3. In this case, the firstindex value of each of the target menus 1 to 3 is “100, “70”, and “30”,respectively, and the summation of the first index values of the targetmenus 1 to 3 is expressed by 100+70+30, namely equals to 200.Accordingly, the allocation rate for the target menu 1 is expressed by(100/200)×100, namely equals to 50%. In the similar manner, theallocation rate for the target menu 2 is 35%, and the allocation ratefor the target menu 3 is 15%.

In the case where “100” is designated as the number of the considerationimages 26C on the designation screen 50, as shown in FIG. 40, the numberof the consideration images 26C to be extracted for the target menu 1 isexpressed by 100×0.5, namely equals to “50”. In the similar manner, thenumber of the consideration images 26C to be extracted for the targetmenu 2 is “35”, and the number of the consideration images 26C to beextracted for the target menu 3 is “15”.

The second extractor 74 extracts the failed image file of each of thetarget menus 1 to 3 based on the intermediate process data 145. Thus,for the target menu in which the frequency of imaging failure can bedecreased, or for the target menu in which the increase in the frequencyof imaging failure can be suppressed, the number of the considerationimages 26C to be extracted becomes larger, and therefore it is possibleto perform meaningful consideration and promote the decrease in thefrequency of imaging failure or the suppression of the increase in thefrequency of imaging failure.

The number of consideration image 26C to be extracted is not necessarilycalculated based on the first index value. For example, in the casewhere the number of target menus extracted by the first extractor 73 is“9”, and “45” is designated as the number of consideration images 26C onthe designation screen 50, the number of the consideration images 26C tobe extracted for the target menu having the first index value ranked atfirst place may be set to “9”, the number of the consideration images26C to be extracted for the target menu having the first index valueranked at second place may be set to “8”, . . . , the number of theconsideration images 26C to be extracted for the target menu having thefirst index value ranked at eighth place may be set to “2”, and thenumber of the consideration images 26C to be extracted for the targetmenu having the first index value ranked at ninth place may be set to“1”, namely, the number of the consideration images 26C to be extractedmay be decreased by one as the rank of the first index value isdecreased. Further, in the case where the number of the target menus istwo, the allocation rate for the target menu having the first indexvalue ranked at first place may be set to 70%, and the allocation ratefor the target menu having the first index value ranked at second placemay be set to 30%, namely the allocation rate may be preliminarily setin accordance with the number of the target menus.

Note that, as shown in FIG. 41, a check box 150 for designating aparticularly notable participant may be disposed next to the icon 115 ofeach participant in the participant display region 111 of the conferencescreen 30. In the case where the check box 150 is selected using thecursor 56, the extraction of the target menu and consideration image 26Cmay be performed by the failed image management server 13 again.

In this case, in the failed image management server 13, at the time ofcalculating the first index value by the first calculator 72, aweighting coefficient that is more than 0 is added to the variable basedon the number of times of occurrence of imaging failure and the variablebased on the rate of occurrence of imaging failure of the participant ofwhich check box 150 is selected using the cursor 56. Alternatively, thevariable based on the number of times of occurrence of imaging failureand the variable based on the rate of occurrence of imaging failure ofthe participant of which check box 150 is selected using the cursor 56are multiplied by a weighting coefficient more than 1. In FIG. 41, thecheck box 150 corresponding to “Ayaka HYAKUYASU” having the staff ID“R0008” is selected, and therefore a weighting coefficient more than 0is added to the variable X9 based on the number of times of occurrenceof imaging failure and the variable X10 based on the rate of occurrenceof imaging failure corresponding to the staff ID “R0008” shown in FIG.14, or the variables X9 and X10 are multiplied by a weightingcoefficient more than 1. Alternatively, a weighting coefficient morethan 0 is added to the variable Z4 of the imaging menus “chestpart/upright imaging posture/front” and “chest part/upright imagingposture/rear” shown in FIG. 36, or the variable Z4 is multiplied by aweighting coefficient more than 1.

Furthermore, when the second calculator 75 calculates the second indexvalue, a weighting coefficient more than 0 is added to the variable Y1regarding the participant of the failed image file, in which the staffID of the participant of which check box 150 is selected using thecursor 56 is inputted, or the variable Y1 is multiplied by a weightingcoefficient more than 1.

As described above, the target menu and the consideration image 26C areextracted again such that the contribution ratio of the variableregarding the participant of which check box 150 is selected using thecursor 56 to the first index value and the second index value isincreased. Thereby, probability of the imaging menu that the participantof which check box 150 was selected using the cursor 56 failed in theimage capturing, and the failed image captured by the participant ofwhich check box 150 was selected using the cursor 56 being extracted asthe target menu and the consideration image 26C is increased,respectively.

For example, FIG. 42 illustrates a display state of the target menudisplay region 110 before and after selection of the check box 150. Inthis case, before the check box 150 corresponding to “Ayaka HYAKUYASU”is selected, the target menu containing the consideration image 26Ccaptured by “Ayaka HYAKUYASU” is not displayed in the target menudisplay region 110. In contrast, after the selection of the check box150 corresponding to “Ayaka HYAKUYASU”, the contribution ratio of thevariable regarding “Ayaka HYAKUYASU” to the first index value isincreased, and thereby the target menu “abdominal part/upright imagingposture/front” containing the consideration image 26C captured by “AyakaHYAKUYASU” is displayed at the top of the target menu display region110.

Further, for example, FIG. 43 illustrates a display state of theconsideration image selection region 120 before and after the selectionof the check box 150. In this case, before the check box 150corresponding to “Ayaka HYAKUYASU” is selected, the thumbnail 121 of theconsideration image 26C captured by “Ayaka HYAKUYASU” is not displayedin the consideration image selection region 120. In contrast, after theselection of the check box 150 corresponding to “Ayaka HYAKUYASU”, thecontribution ratio of the variable regarding “Ayaka HYAKUYASU” to thesecond index value is increased, and thereby a series of threethumbnails 121 of the consideration images 26C captured by “AyakaHYAKUYASU” are displayed from the top in the consideration imageselection region 120.

Note that, a function of the check box 150 for designating theparticularly notable participant may be provided in the participantselection region 51 of the designation screen 50. However, it ispreferable that the check box 150 is provided in the participant displayregion 111 of the conference screen 30 as shown in FIG. 41, because itis possible to promptly respond to the case where the failed imagecorresponding to the particularly notable participant is required to beconsidered in the middle of the conference, thus resulting in highconvenience.

In the above first embodiment, the narrowing-down condition is used onlyfor the calculation of the second index value. However, thenarrowing-down condition may be contained in the search command at thetime of searching the diagnostic image file and the failed image file bythe first calculator 72 as shown in FIG. 11, at the time of searchingthe failed image file by the second extractor 74 as shown in FIG. 19,and at the time of searching the diagnostic image file by the secondextractor 74 as shown in FIG. 23.

It is sufficient that the first calculation formula has at least thevariable X1 based on the number of times of occurrence of imagingfailure for each imaging menu and the variable X2 based on the rate ofoccurrence of imaging failure for each imaging menu, or the variable Z1based on the increasing rate of the frequency of imaging failure foreach imaging menu. Further, it is sufficient that the second calculationformula has at least the variable Y1 based on whether or not the failedimage as the consideration image 26C is associated with the participant.

The first calculation formula and the second calculation formula are notlimited to the summation ΣXi of the variables Xi, the summation ΣYj ofthe variables Yj, and the summation ΣZk of the variables Zk, asdescribed in the first and second embodiments by way of example. Forexample, an infinite product ΠXi of the variables Xi, an infiniteproduct ΠYj of the variables Yj, and an infinite product ΠZk of thevariables Zk may be used. Further, the variable Xi becomes larger as thenumber of times of occurrence of imaging failure is increased or as therate of occurrence of imaging failure is increased in each of the aboveembodiments. However, in contrast, the variable Xi may be larger as thenumber of times of occurrence of imaging failure is decreased or as therate of occurrence of imaging failure is decreased. In the similarmanner, the variable Zk may be larger as the increasing rate of thefrequency of imaging failure or the like is decreased.

Various modifications are possible for the hardware configuration of thecomputer constituting the failed image management server 13corresponding to the failed image management apparatus of the presentinvention. For example, the failed image management server 13 mayconsist of a plurality of server computers separated as the hardware,for the purpose of improving ability of processing and reliability.

Specifically, the functions of the receiving unit 71, the firstcalculator 72, and the first extractor 73, and the functions of thesecond extractor 74, the second calculator 75, and the screen outputcontroller 76 are dispersedly assumed by two server computers. In thiscase, the two server computers constitute the failed image managementsystem. The server computer having the functions of the receiving unit71, the first calculator 72, and the first extractor 73 outputs thecalculation result 86 of the first index value and the extraction result91 of the target menu to the server computer having the functions of thesecond extractor 74, the second calculator 75, and the screen outputcontroller 76.

Further, all the functional components 71 to 76 may be established inthe CPU 37A of the client terminal 12, such that the client terminal 12operates as the failed image management apparatus. Alternatively, partof the functional components 71 to 76 may be established in the CPU 37Aof the client terminal 12. In this case, the client terminal 12 and thefailed image management server 13 constitute the failed image managementsystem.

In the case where all the functional components 71 to 76 are establishedin the CPU 37A of the client terminal 12, the client terminal 12 issuessearch requests corresponding to the search command of the diagnosticimage file and the failed image file shown in FIG. 11, the searchcommand of the failed image file shown in FIG. 19, and the searchcommand of the diagnostic image file shown in FIG. 23, to the failedimage management server 13. The failed image management server 13outputs the search results 80, 95, and 105 to the client terminal 12 inresponse to the search requests.

The receiving unit 71 established in the CPU 37A of the client terminal12 receives the search results 80, 95, and 105 from the failed imagemanagement server 13, and receives the delivery command from the GUIcontroller 45. Further, the screen output controller 76 established inthe CPU 37A of the client terminal 12 generates the conference screen30, and outputs the generated conference screen 30 to the GUI controller45.

Alternatively, the imaging failure case example DB 21 may be establishedin the PACS 11, such that the PACS 11 manages not only the diagnosticimage file but also the failed image file and the PACS 11 assumes thefunction of the failed image management apparatus.

As described above, the hardware configuration of the computer may beappropriately changed in accordance with the required properties such asthe ability of processing, safety, and reliability. Further, as a matterof course, not only the hardware but also the application programs suchas the failed image management program 70 may be duplicated ordispersedly stored in a plurality of storage devices, for the purpose ofsecuring the safety and reliability.

The means for providing the target menus and the consideration images26c to the medical staff members is not limited to the delivery of theconference screen 30 using the web described in each of the aboveembodiments. For example, a DB for storing a consideration file in whichthe target menus and the consideration images 26C are recorded may beprovided, and the access authority to the DB may be given to the medicalstaff members, such that each of the medical staff members reads out theconsideration file from the DB. A publicly-known file transfer protocolsuch as FTPS (File Transfer Protocol over SSL/TLS) may be used toautomatically transmit the consideration file to the client terminal 12.Instead of the file transfer protocol, e-mail may be used. Further, apaper material on which the target menus and the consideration images26C are printed may be outputted.

According to each of the above embodiments, the medical informationsystem 2 established in one medical facility is described by way ofexample, and the failed image management server 13 is used in onemedical facility. However, the failed image management server 13 may beused in a plurality of medical facilities.

According to each of the above embodiments, the client terminal 12installed in one medical facility is communicably connected to thefailed image management server 13 using the network 14 such as the LAN,such that various functions in response to various requests from theclient terminal 12 are provided. For the purpose of using the variousfunctions in a plurality of medical facilities, the failed imagemanagement server 13 is communicably connected to the client terminals12 installed in a plurality of medical facilities using WAN (Wide AreaNetwork) such as the internet and public telecommunication network.Then, the request from each of the client terminals 12 in a plurality ofmedical facilities is received by the failed image management server 13using the WAN, and various functions are provided to each of the clientterminals 12. Incidentally, in the case of using the WAN, by taking theinformation security into consideration, it is preferable that VPN(Virtual Private Network) is established, or a communication protocol ata high security level such as HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure)is used.

In this case, the failed image management server 13 may be installed inand managed by a data center managed by a company independent from themedical facility or one of the medical facilities.

Although the radiographic image captured by the radiation imaging system10 is exemplified as the medical image in each of the above embodiments,the medical image may be an MRI image captured by an MRI imaging systemor the like. Further, the radiographic image 26 and the accompanyinginformation are not necessarily organized in a file format in thesimilar manner as the image file. Furthermore, it is described that onediagnostic image file corresponds to one imaging order, however aplurality of diagnostic image files may correspond to one imaging order.

Furthermore, although the failed image file and the diagnostic imagefile are stored in one imaging failure case example DB 21, a DB forstoring the failed image file and a DB for storing the diagnostic imagefile may be separately provided.

According to the above first embodiment, as the situation of theconsideration, the conference at which a plurality of the medical staffmembers gather is exemplified. However, as a matter of course, thepresent invention is also applicable to personal consideration by onemedical staff member. In this case, the client terminal 12 is preferablya portable terminal such as a mobile phone, smartphone, tablet, PDA(Personal Digital Assistant), and laptop. Thereby, regardless of date,time, and place, consideration can be repeatedly performed, and sparetime such as a time interval between image capturing operations andcommuting hours can be used for the consideration.

Although the present invention has been fully described by way of thepreferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, various changes and modifications will be apparent to thosehaving skill in this field. Therefore, unless otherwise these changesand modifications depart from the scope of the present invention, theyshould be construed as included therein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A failed image management apparatus comprising: afirst calculator for calculating a first index value whichquantitatively indicates an imaging failure state based on each imagingmenu associated with a plurality of medical images containing failedimages obtained as a result of failure in image capturing, the firstcalculator calculating the first index value using a first calculationformula having at least a variable based on the number of times ofoccurrence of imaging failure for each imaging menu and a variable basedon a rate of occurrence of imaging failure for each imaging menu, orcalculating the first index value using a first calculation formulahaving at least a variable based on an increasing rate of frequency ofimaging failure for each imaging menu; and a first extractor forautomatically extracting a target menu which is the imaging menu as atarget to be subject to consideration for the purpose of preventingoccurrence of imaging failure based on the first index value.
 2. Afailed image management apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein themedical image is also associated with information regarding a medicalstaff member who performed the image capturing, and a participant as themedical staff member who attends the consideration is designated.
 3. Afailed image management apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein thefirst calculation formula also has a variable based on the number oftimes of occurrence of imaging failure for each imaging menu for eachparticipant and a variable based on the rate of occurrence of imagingfailure for each imaging menu for each participant, in the case wherethe first index value is calculated using the first calculation formulahaving at least the variable based on the number of times of occurrenceof imaging failure for each imaging menu and the variable based on therate of occurrence of imaging failure for each imaging menu.
 4. A failedimage management apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the medicalimage is also associated with information regarding an imaging order forinstructing a medical staff member to perform the image capturing, andthe first calculation formula also has a variable based on the number oftimes of occurrence of imaging failure for each imaging menu in theimage capturing corresponding to the same imaging order, in the casewhere the first index value is calculated using the first calculationformula having at least the variable based on the number of times ofoccurrence of imaging failure for each imaging menu and the variablebased on the rate of occurrence of imaging failure for each imagingmenu.
 5. A failed image management apparatus as defined in claim 1,wherein the medical image is also associated with information regardinga patient as a target for the image capturing, and the first calculationformula also has a variable based on the number of times of occurrenceof imaging failure for each imaging menu in the image capturingcorresponding to the same patient, in the case where the first indexvalue is calculated using the first calculation formula having at leastthe variable based on the number of times of occurrence of imagingfailure for each imaging menu and the variable based on the rate ofoccurrence of imaging failure for each imaging menu.
 6. A failed imagemanagement apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the firstcalculation formula also has a variable based on the increasing rate offrequency of imaging failure of the target menu extracted at a previousconsideration, in the case where the first index value is calculatedusing the first calculation formula having at least the variable basedon the increasing rate of frequency of imaging failure for each imagingmenu.
 7. A failed image management apparatus as defined in claim 1,wherein the medical image is also associated with information regardinga medical staff member who performed the image capturing, a participantas the medical staff member who attends the consideration is designated,and the first calculation formula also has a variable based on whetheror not the participant, who attended a previous consideration and wasdesignated to attend a current consideration, failed in the imagecapturing corresponding the target menu extracted at the previousconsideration, in the case where the first index value is calculatedusing the first calculation formula having at least the variable basedon the increasing rate of frequency of imaging failure for each imagingmenu.
 8. A failed image management apparatus as defined in claim 1,wherein the medical image is also associated with information regardingdate and time of the image capturing, and a calculation target period,as a period in which the medical image having the first index value tobe calculated by the first extractor is captured, is designated.
 9. Afailed image management apparatus as defined in claim 1, furthercomprising a second extractor for extracting a consideration image thatis the failed image associated with the target menu among a plurality ofthe failed images.
 10. A failed image management apparatus as defined inclaim 9, further comprising a second calculator for calculating a secondindex value which quantitatively indicates a degree of priority of theconsideration image to be viewed.
 11. A failed image managementapparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the medical image is alsoassociated with information regarding a medical staff member whoperformed the image capturing, a participant as the medical staff memberwho attends the consideration is designated, and the second calculatorcalculates the second index value using a second calculation formulahaving at least a variable based on whether or not the failed image asthe consideration image is associated with the participant.
 12. A failedimage management apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the secondextractor determines the failed image as the consideration image basedon the second index value.
 13. A failed image management apparatus asdefined in claim 9, wherein the medical image is also associated withinformation regarding the medical staff member who performed the imagecapturing, a participant as the medical staff member who attends theconsideration is designated, the second extractor replaces the targetmenu with another target menu and extracts the consideration imageagain, in the case where there is no consideration image associated withthe participant among the consideration images extracted based on thetarget menu, and replacement of the target menus and re-extraction ofthe consideration images are repeated until the consideration imageassociated with the participant is extracted.
 14. A failed imagemanagement apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the second extractorincreases the number of failed images to be extracted as theconsideration images, as the imaging failure state indicated by thefirst index value of the target menu with which the failed image isassociated is poorer, in the case where there are a plurality of thetarget menus extracted by the first extractor.
 15. A failed imagemanagement apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the number ofconsideration images to be extracted by the second extractor isdesignated.
 16. A failed image management apparatus as defined in claim9, wherein the medical image is also associated with informationregarding the date and time of the image capturing, and an extractiontarget period, as a period in which the failed image to be extracted asthe consideration image by the second extractor is captured, isdesignated.
 17. A failed image management apparatus as defined in claim1, further comprising a screen output controller for controlling anoutput of a display screen for displaying the target menu and a secondextractor for extracting a consideration image that is the failed imageassociated with the target menu among a plurality of the failed images,wherein the consideration image is also displayed on the display screen.18. A failed image management apparatus as defined in claim 17, furthercomprising a second calculator for calculating a second index valuewhich quantitatively indicates a degree of priority of the considerationimage to be viewed, wherein the consideration images arranged inaccordance with the second index value are displayed on the displayscreen, or the consideration images each having a display size and adisplay position in accordance with the second index value are displayedon the display screen, in the case where there are a plurality of theconsideration images extracted by the second extractor.
 19. An operationmethod of a failed image management apparatus comprising: a calculationstep for calculating an index value which quantitatively indicates animaging failure state based on each imaging menu associated with aplurality of medical images containing failed images obtained as aresult of failure in image capturing, the calculation step calculatingthe index value using a calculation formula having at least a variablebased on the number of times of occurrence of imaging failure for eachimaging menu and a variable based on a rate of occurrence of imagingfailure for each imaging menu, or calculating the index value using acalculation formula having at least a variable based on an increasingrate of frequency of imaging failure for each imaging menu; and anextraction step for automatically extracting a target menu which is theimaging menu as a target to be subject to consideration for the purposeof preventing occurrence of imaging failure based on the index value.20. A failed image management system including a failed image managementapparatus comprising: a calculator for calculating an index value whichquantitatively indicates an imaging failure state based on each imagingmenu associated with a plurality of medical images containing failedimages obtained as a result of failure in image capturing, thecalculator calculating the index value using a calculation formulahaving at least a variable based on the number of times of occurrence ofimaging failure for each imaging menu and a variable based on a rate ofoccurrence of imaging failure for each imaging menu, or calculating theindex value using a calculation formula having at least a variable basedon an increasing rate of frequency of imaging failure for each imagingmenu; and an extractor for automatically extracting a target menu whichis the imaging menu as a target to be subject to consideration for thepurpose of preventing occurrence of imaging failure based on the indexvalue.